Consensus Reached to Coordinate with Government on Relief, Rescue, and Rehabilitation Efforts

A cross-party meeting held at Singha Durbar, convened by RASWPA, has decided to proceed with coordinated efforts alongside the government in relief, rescue, and rehabilitation activities. The meeting agreed to expand the political network established at the central level across all tiers and to form mechanisms from Bagmati Province to flood-affected districts and municipalities.

Leaders from UML, NCP, and Congress suggested that the government seek international, technical, and expert assistance for rescuing individuals trapped or detained in tunnels. The meeting took place on 16 Bhadra in Kathmandu.

The unanimous decision of the meeting was to move forward by coordinating with the government in relief, rescue, and rehabilitation efforts. Convened by RASWPA on Tuesday at Singha Durbar, the gathering emphasized working unitedly during disasters, in partnership with the government. Following the meeting, RASWPA spokesperson Jagdish Kharel informed that suggestions and feedback from various political parties on search, rescue, and relief were taken seriously. He added that there was consensus to expand the political network formed centrally across all levels.

Furthermore, such cross-party meetings and mechanisms will also be established in all flood-affected districts and local levels, including Bagmati Province, Kharel stated. The main purpose of these mechanisms will be to assist and facilitate disaster management activities conducted by the respective governments at those levels. Since national consensus involving all three tiers of government, citizens, affected communities, and political parties is necessary for relocating entire settlements, the spokesperson emphasized the agreement to continue and advance the high-level political mechanism.

After the meeting, UML leader Pradeep Gyawali stressed the government must play a serious role in distributing relief to affected citizens and recommended seeking international assistance for rescuing individuals trapped in tunnels. NCP leader Barshaman Pun urged the deployment of experts for the rescue of workers trapped in tunnels and called for opening the rescue operations to private sector and foreign companies. Congress spokesperson Devaraj Chalise advocated that the government seek technical support from other countries for searching and rescuing those trapped in tunnels.