27th Earthquake Safety Day

Right Honorable Prime Minister, Mr. KP Sharma Oli

Hon. Deputy Prime Minister & Minister of Urban Development, Mr. Prakash Man Singh

Hon. Home Minister & Chair of Earthquake Safety Day (ESD) -2025 National Organizing Committee, Mr. Ramesh Lekhak

Coordinator of ESD-2025, Mayor of Kirtipur Municipality, Mr. Krishna Man Dangol

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good afternoon and Namaste!

Sabai janaa lai  haalai ko nayaa barsa, lhosaar ra maaghi ko shubha kaamanaa

Gayeko haftaa eka bihaanai, (early in the morning last week) we had a shaking wake-up call as Kathmandu Valley trembled when a major earthquake struck Dinggye, China. It was too close to home—in every sense of the word. We froze with fear, reminded of the immense power of nature and the vulnerabilities we live with every day.

The response to that earthquake across the border was extraordinary. Within 10 minutes, drones were surveying the damage; within an hour, first responders were in action; and by sundown, many displaced families were sheltered in tents. Wow! Can we, in Nepal, say that we are prepared to respond with such speed and efficiency?

Today, as we remember the nubbay saal ko bhookampa(quake of 1990 B.S.) and other devastating earthquakes that have scarred our history, let us resolve to do more—to be more prepared, more resilient, and more united in the face of disasters.

Nepal’s vulnerability to earthquakes is amplified by the impacts of the climate crisis. Extreme weather conditions is taking a toll on our environment. The ever-expanding glacial lakes in the Himalaya could burst  during earthquakes, sending torrents of icy water downstream, destroying lives and livelihoods. Remember what happened in Thame a few months ago? 

We have absolutely no option but to all work together on disaster preparedness.

Yes, baliyo samrachanaa ra purva tayaari (resilient structures and better preparedness) are our strongest defenses. While the Government has made commendable progress in disaster risk reduction and post-2015 earthquake reconstruction, there is still so much to do. Western Nepal, where tectonic plates have not shifted for 500 years, demands urgent attention.

Let us keep our vigilance high and continuously ask these questions:

• Kati tayaar chhaun haami?(How prepared are we?) Are our buildings safe as per building codes and retrofitted if necessary? Are frontline responders equipped and briefed? Are our emergency services ready? Are multi-hazard early warning systems functional?
• Are schools conducting regular ghooda teki, ot laagi, samaat! (Drop, cover, hold!) drills, and hospitals undergoing triage drills?
• Are communities prepared with jhat pat jholaa  (go bags)? Have they stockpiled  emergency kits? Tarpaulins, water, digging tools?
• Are duty bearers in all tiers trained in disaster risk management? 

These questions demand answers—not someday, but NOW!!. Every life we save by preparing today is a life that inspires hope tomorrow. 

The United Nations in Nepal is proud to stand with the government and the people in this mission to build a ekdum tayaar ra surakchhit Nepal  (a very safe and prepared Nepal).  

Dherai Dherai Dhanyabad!