Nepal Hazard Risk Assessment - Asia-Pacific Gateway for Disaster ...

Nepal Hazard Risk Assessment
1 INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND
Due to diverse geographical coverage, Nepal is prone to various geological and hydro-meteorological
hazards. Recent civil unrest, recurring floods, landslides, epidemics has lead to severe economic direct
and economic losses. The impact has been further aggravated due to catalytic factors like climate
change, depletion of glacier, global warming and rapid unsafe urbanization. The Government of Nepal
is committed to establish disaster risk reduction regime though various policies, legislations and
programs. Recently, National Strategy for Disaster Risk Management has been launched by the
government. This is implemented in close collaboration with ministries, departments, national
institutions and international agencies like the World Bank, UNDP and other agencies. The Risk
mapping and expected losses due to anticipated hazards are important steps for effective and precise
disaster risk management.
Risk assessment provides information for decision makers and planners to identify counter measures to
reduce the exposure to risks. Risk mapping is the first step for forming the national, local and sectoral
disaster mitigation planning. The graph shows the linkage between disaster management cycle and
hazard and risk mapping.
hazard and susceptibility maps development, exposure and vulnerability assessment and risk
assessment for forming national framework for disaster risk reduction.
1.2 PURPOSE OF HAZARD AND RISK MAPPING AT NATIONAL LEVEL
• At present condition, several agencies have carried out risk assessment for various parts of the
country at different scale. The current study will enhance the qualitative and quantitative
aspects of agencies works. The study will develop comprehensive risk assessment profile for
the whole country at district level.
• The study project will develop tools for physical vulnerability assessment of various assets at
district level. This will further help in identifying most vulnerable sector and necessary
measures to reduce the impacts.
• The sector specific economic projection of losses will assist the concerned stakeholders to
prioritize disaster risk reduction strategy.
• The study will bring out existing gaps in disaster risk reduction strategies. The study will also
recommend measures to improve decision making capacity.
• The outcome will be useful for mainstreaming disaster risk reduction in various sectors at
different level.
• The assessment will help district and regional decision makers, policy makers and development
agencies for preparing disaster risk reduction planning
• Based on the outcome of the studies, the government may take necessary action for capacity
building for disaster risk reduction.
• The studies will propose robust methodology in hazard, vulnerability and risk assessment in
close collaboration with national technical departments and agencies. The level of assessment
will be from national to district level. These models can be utilized for replicating in other
regions and countries
• The study outcome will evolve economic modeling of losses caused by various major hazards
on defined physical and social assets. This will help in allocating budget for disaster risk
reduction for various vital infrastructure and assets.
• The outcome of the study will hopefully facilitate financial support from international
organizations for measures and actions that reduce the risk associated with natural hazards in
Nepal.
Figure 1.1: Relationship between Disaster Management Cycle and Hazard & Risk Mapping (After (BGR and GAI, 2009))
There are several ways by which methodology for hazard and risk assessment can be defined. The
proposed methodology is largely contextualized for practical implementation of DRM at country level.
This methodology broadly identifies various essential components like collection of base line data,
15