Nepal marks Int'l Day for Natural Disaster Reduction

Nepal on Wednesday marked the International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction by focusing on education of disasters in schools.

The theme for the day for 2006 is "Disaster Risk Reduction Begins at School," which highlights the need to keep the children safe and to involve them directly in the work to strengthen disaster preparedness.

The United Nations General Assembly on Dec. 22, 1989 designated the second Wednesday of October as International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction.

Various government and non-government organizations in Nepal are set to celebrate this day up to Oct. 16 by holding discussions, seminars, interaction and mass awareness creating programs on the occasion.

Nepal is in the 30th position regarding severe natural disaster and in 11th position in terms of earthquake risk.

According to Home Ministry, water induced natural disaster has been focused as the major problem in view of the geographical situation and previous records of the loss wreaked by the natural disaster.

Around 300 people are killed and property loss worth millions is recorded every year in Nepal due to natural disasters, the Ministry said.

Source: Xinhua