KATHMANDU: Home Minister Om Prakash Aryal has stated that the government is giving high priority to disaster risk reduction and management.

Speaking on Monday at the inauguration of the Fourth National Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in Lalitpur, Minister Aryal emphasized that Nepal is highly vulnerable to natural disasters, making risk reduction and management a national priority.

He noted that disasters such as earthquakes, floods, landslides, inundation, and fires not only cause loss of life and property but also hinder development progress.

Aryal highlighted the need to view disasters not only as natural events but also in connection with social, structural, and policy weaknesses.

He also mentioned that early warning systems have been expanded, and capacity-building programs have been implemented in communities according to the community-based disaster risk reduction and management approach.