Nepal to be an emergency hub

LWF Nepal

April 12

Rudelmar Bueno de Faria, Program Coordinator in an interview with LWF Nepal

Nepal will be established as an emergency hub to deal with emergency and disaster related situations, says the Program Coordinator of Lutheran World Federation/Department for World Service (LWF/DWS), Geneva .

“By the end of 2011, Nepal will be established as an Emergency Hub for South and South East Asia ,” said Rudelmar Bueno de Faria, Program Coordinator in an interview with LWF Nepal. In his talk with LWF Nepal during a two-day meeting of the Standing Committee of LWF/DWS held in Nepal (April 11-12) for the first time, he said that there will be two other hubs by the end of the year. Besides Nepal , Kenya and El Salvador will also be developed as emergency hubs. These hubs will be having about three permanent staff in each country to work for the region. Besides dealing with emergency situations in the regions, these hubs will be engaged in Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), especially preparedness and strengthening capacity whenever there are no emergency situations. These hubs will be having about three permanent staff in each country to work for the region. Besides dealing with emergency situations in the regions, these hubs will be engaged in Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), especially preparedness and strengthening capacity whenever there are no emergency situations. The hub to be established in Nepal will extend support to Nepal , Bangladesh , India , Cambodia , Myanmar and Indonesia programs, all of which are members of Asia Zone Emergency and Environment Cooperation Network (AZEECON). These hubs are permanent set up, which will not only support country programs but also associate programs. “In future we may increase the number of hubs,” he added.

The Standing Committee, which is the Governing Board of LWF/DWS not only held its meeting in Nepal but also visited several projects in Eastern Nepal . Fariasaid “it is excellent for Nepal to have the combination of DRR, Development and Advocacy programs. The good thing on advocacy is that it is not only advocating with the government but also connecting with international human rights organizations.” However, he opined that there should be more stress on DRR and Disaster Preparedness in the context of climate change and vulnerability like earthquake, which are real disaster risks in Nepal .