Nepal on Monday concluded the search and rescue operation launched after the devastating August 26 flash floods, which claimed at least 1,455 lives, and is now shifting its focus to rehabilitation and reconstruction, officials said.
The decision was taken at the 21st meeting of the National Council of the NDRRMA chaired by Prime Minister Balendra Shah at the Singha Durbar Secretariat here, the Prime Minister’s Office said.
The government decided to wind up the 40-day search and rescue operation, except for essential activities. The meeting also recommended that the Ministry of Finance approve a budget of NPR 559.17 billion for 504 plans and programmes submitted by various ministries and agencies for reconstruction and rehabilitation in the affected areas. The resources required for the approved plans will be managed through the Ministry of Finance in accordance with the Financial Procedures and Fiscal Responsibility Regulations, 2020.
“The decision was taken based on recommendations from the District Security Committee, District Disaster Management Committees, the Executive Committee of the NDRRMA, as well as findings from field inspections,” it said. Addressing the meeting, Prime Minister Shah said disaster management efforts had been carried out through coordination among the federal, provincial and local governments, and that reconstruction and rehabilitation would also proceed through the same mechanism.
