Disaster risk profile and existing legal framework of Nepal: floods and landslides

Risk Management and Healthcare Policy 2015:8 139–149:

The overall objective of this paper is to develop a disaster risk profile of Nepal focused mainly on water-induced disasters (floods and landslides) and analyze the existing legal framework of the country. It is based on secondary data sources. Historical data of natural disasters in Nepal show that water-induced disasters have killed hundreds of people and affected thousands every year. Likewise, properties worth millions of US dollars have been damaged. There is an increasing trend toward landslides and floods, which will likely continue to rise if proper intervention is not taken.

This paper identifies a positive correlation between water-induced disasters and deaths. Findings of this report may be very useful in reducing the loss of lives and socioeconomic structures due to water-induced disasters in various vulnerable areas of Nepal. It may also be useful in prioritizing the districts that are prone to floods and landslides for interventions and adoption of a new multifunctional law in the country. Recommendations that can help Nepal to prevent loss of lives, infrastructure, and economy due to water-induced disasters are as follows.