A three-day simulation on early warning, disaster management, emergency preparedness and response management organised by the World Food Programme (WFP), in association with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MOHA), concluded on Thursday in Kathmandu. 

Government officials, personnel from the Nepal Army, Nepal Police, the Armed Police Force, representatives of I/NGOs and UN agencies and officials from various disaster-prone Tarai districts of mid-western and far-western regions, which are affected by floods every year, participated in the programme. 

A total of 150 persons participated in the simulation. 

The participants were taught practical skills of mobile storage units and installing telecommunication equipment. 

Addressing the closing event, Krishna Bahadur Raut, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Home Affairs, who is also the head of the Disaster Management Division, said kind of event plays a vital role in mitigating and managing risks induced by disasters. 

The simulation project was founded by Australian Aid, Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and German Federal Foreign Office. 

“This training is unique as it focuses on three vital elements—early warning, preparedness and response which are key to reducing impacts of disasters,” said Francesca Caponera, deputy country director of WFP in Nepal.