KATHMANDU: Home Minister Om Prakash Aryal has said that preparedness is necessary to reduce earthquake damage.

Addressing a program held at local Bhugol Park, New Road to commemorate the 28th National Earthquake Safety Day today, he emphasized the need to enhance inter-governmental coordination to face disasters.

Home Minister Aryal stated that the efforts made by local governments should be institutionalized.

“Mutual practice and learning can enhance capacity. We must work on enhancing capacity in the implementation of basic indicators for civic awareness and a resilient city,” he said.

Chairperson of the commemorative program and Deputy Mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City, Sunita Dangol, said that the community’s capacity should be made a tool for disaster preparedness, search and rescue, rehabilitation, and recovery.

“The first responders and supporters during disasters are the communities themselves. For a metropolitan city to become disaster-resilient, intergovernmental coordination, mutual exchange of knowledge and skills, and integrated planning are the first prerequisites. Let us work together for this,” she added.

At the program, Coordinator of the Disaster Management Committee of KMC, Prem Thapa, said, “Indigenous skills can be used to build resilient structures. Our ancient structures have withstood the tremors of large earthquakes. Let’s promote these skills.”

Officials from the Nepali Army, Nepal Police, Armed Police Force, municipal council members of the metropolitan city, department heads, and representatives of non-governmental and social organizations active in disaster management attended in the program.

The Earthquake Safety Day is observed with the slogan ‘Governments at all levels, preparedness of all citizens: Earthquake-Resilient Nepal, the responsibility from now on’.

This Day is observed every year in commemoration of the devastating earthquakes of January 16, 1934 (Magh 2, 1990 BS) to raise awareness so that future generations do not have to bear the damage caused by the 1990 BS earthquake and the subsequent ones.

Earthquake Safety Day has been observed every year on Magh 2 since 2055 BS with the aim of involving generations in building safe settlements, based on the lessons learned from past devastating earthquakes.