Disaster risk profile and existing legal framework of Nepal: floods and landslides
Surya Gaire, Rafael Castro Delgado, Pedro Arcos González Unit for Research in Emergency and Disaster, Department of Medicine, University of Oviedo, Campus del Cristo, Oviedo, Asturias, SpainAbstract: Nepal has a complicated geophysical structure that is prone to various kinds of disasters...
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Dove Medical Press
2015-09-01
|
| Series: | Risk Management and Healthcare Policy |
| Online Access: | http://www.dovepress.com/disaster-risk-profile-and-existing-legal-framework-of-nepal-floods-and-peer-reviewed-article-RMHP |
| _version_ | 1818620982353461248 |
|---|---|
| author | Gaire S Castro Delgado R Arcos González P |
| author_facet | Gaire S Castro Delgado R Arcos González P |
| author_sort | Gaire S |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Surya Gaire, Rafael Castro Delgado, Pedro Arcos González Unit for Research in Emergency and Disaster, Department of Medicine, University of Oviedo, Campus del Cristo, Oviedo, Asturias, SpainAbstract: Nepal has a complicated geophysical structure that is prone to various kinds of disasters. Nepal ranks the most disaster-prone country in the world and has experienced several natural calamities, causing high property and life losses. Disasters are caused by natural processes, but may be increased by human activities. The overall objective of this paper is to analyze the disaster risk profile and existing legal framework of Nepal. The paper is based on secondary data sources. Major causative factors for floods and landslides are heavy and continuous rainfall, outburst floods, infrastructure failure, and deforestation. Historical data of natural disasters in Nepal show that water-induced disasters have killed hundreds of people and affected thousands every year. Likewise, properties worth millions of US dollars have been damaged. There is an increasing trend toward landslides and floods, which will likely continue to rise if proper intervention is not taken. A positive correlation between water-induced disasters and deaths has been observed. Nepal has a poor Index for Risk Management (INFORM). There are fluctuations in the recording of death data caused by flood and landslides. The Government of Nepal focuses more on the response phase than on the preparedness phase of disasters. The existing disaster management act seems to be weak and outdated. There is a gap in current legal procedure, so the country is in dire need of a comprehensive legal framework. The new proposed act seems to take a much broader approach to disaster management. With a long-term vision of managing disaster risk in the country, the Government of Nepal has begun the Nepal Risk Reduction Consortium (NRRC) in collaboration with development and humanitarian partners. In order to improve the vulnerability of Nepal, an early warning system, mainstreaming disasters with development, research activities, community participation and awareness, and a rainfall monitoring system must all be a focus. Keywords: risk, vulnerability, risk factors, natural hazards, natural disasters, monsoon rainfall |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-16T18:02:02Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-03389f2c0f0d446284e88d6b3da16509 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1179-1594 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-16T18:02:02Z |
| publishDate | 2015-09-01 |
| publisher | Dove Medical Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Risk Management and Healthcare Policy |
| spelling | doaj.art-03389f2c0f0d446284e88d6b3da165092022-12-21T22:22:01ZengDove Medical PressRisk Management and Healthcare Policy1179-15942015-09-012015default13914923505Disaster risk profile and existing legal framework of Nepal: floods and landslidesGaire SCastro Delgado RArcos González PSurya Gaire, Rafael Castro Delgado, Pedro Arcos González Unit for Research in Emergency and Disaster, Department of Medicine, University of Oviedo, Campus del Cristo, Oviedo, Asturias, SpainAbstract: Nepal has a complicated geophysical structure that is prone to various kinds of disasters. Nepal ranks the most disaster-prone country in the world and has experienced several natural calamities, causing high property and life losses. Disasters are caused by natural processes, but may be increased by human activities. The overall objective of this paper is to analyze the disaster risk profile and existing legal framework of Nepal. The paper is based on secondary data sources. Major causative factors for floods and landslides are heavy and continuous rainfall, outburst floods, infrastructure failure, and deforestation. Historical data of natural disasters in Nepal show that water-induced disasters have killed hundreds of people and affected thousands every year. Likewise, properties worth millions of US dollars have been damaged. There is an increasing trend toward landslides and floods, which will likely continue to rise if proper intervention is not taken. A positive correlation between water-induced disasters and deaths has been observed. Nepal has a poor Index for Risk Management (INFORM). There are fluctuations in the recording of death data caused by flood and landslides. The Government of Nepal focuses more on the response phase than on the preparedness phase of disasters. The existing disaster management act seems to be weak and outdated. There is a gap in current legal procedure, so the country is in dire need of a comprehensive legal framework. The new proposed act seems to take a much broader approach to disaster management. With a long-term vision of managing disaster risk in the country, the Government of Nepal has begun the Nepal Risk Reduction Consortium (NRRC) in collaboration with development and humanitarian partners. In order to improve the vulnerability of Nepal, an early warning system, mainstreaming disasters with development, research activities, community participation and awareness, and a rainfall monitoring system must all be a focus. Keywords: risk, vulnerability, risk factors, natural hazards, natural disasters, monsoon rainfallhttp://www.dovepress.com/disaster-risk-profile-and-existing-legal-framework-of-nepal-floods-and-peer-reviewed-article-RMHP |
| spellingShingle | Gaire S Castro Delgado R Arcos González P Disaster risk profile and existing legal framework of Nepal: floods and landslides Risk Management and Healthcare Policy |
| title | Disaster risk profile and existing legal framework of Nepal: floods and landslides |
| title_full | Disaster risk profile and existing legal framework of Nepal: floods and landslides |
| title_fullStr | Disaster risk profile and existing legal framework of Nepal: floods and landslides |
| title_full_unstemmed | Disaster risk profile and existing legal framework of Nepal: floods and landslides |
| title_short | Disaster risk profile and existing legal framework of Nepal: floods and landslides |
| title_sort | disaster risk profile and existing legal framework of nepal floods and landslides |
| url | http://www.dovepress.com/disaster-risk-profile-and-existing-legal-framework-of-nepal-floods-and-peer-reviewed-article-RMHP |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT gaires disasterriskprofileandexistinglegalframeworkofnepalfloodsandlandslides AT castrodelgador disasterriskprofileandexistinglegalframeworkofnepalfloodsandlandslides AT arcosgonzalezp disasterriskprofileandexistinglegalframeworkofnepalfloodsandlandslides |