NEPAL ARMY IN DISASTER RELIEF

The official Nepalese definition of a Disaster is "a major incident which causes a serious disruption to life, arising with little or no warning, causing or threatening death or serious injury to, or rendering homeless, such numbers of persons in excess of those which can be dealt with by public services operating under normal procedures, and which calls for the special mobilization and organization of those services". Government of Nepal has judiciously also added 'environmental degradation' as a disaster in the making.


The Government of Nepal views the Nepal Army as an inseparable agency in Disaster Relief Operations. Examples of the particular suitability and capability of the armed forces to respond effectively to such incidents abound in Nepalese history. Furthermore, Nepal's status as a developing country does not justify the high costs of maintaining a separate disaster relief organization. Consequently, the Nepal Army plays a major role in providing emergency assistance to needy people all over the country - a role that has become even more important in the present context.