DISASTER RESPONSE MEET BEGINS Kathmandu, 3 July: A meeting of the International Search and Advisory Group (INSARAG) Asia-Pacific Regional Group began in the Capital today [Tuesday], reports RSS.. The two-day meeting is expected to provide a platform for sharing knowledge and experiences on making the disaster response services more effective and efficient. The previous meeting of the Group that was held in Bali of Indonesia last year had decided to hold the meeting in Nepal. This year, Nepal is the Group Chairman for the Asia Pacific Region. The meeting would elect the chairman for 2013. The Group is working in the area of preparedness and mitigation of the negative impact of natural disasters especially earthquake on socio-economic sector. It may be noted that Asia Pacific is unfortunately prone to rapid onset disasters. Each and every year, many people lose their lives, their homes and their livelihood as a result of rapid onset disasters. Forty percent of the world's disasters annually are in the Asia Pacific region and there are at least one or two medium and great disasters in the region every year. The meeting is expected to focus on undertaking effective preparedness, mitigation, response and rescue operations at a time of disasters. It is learnt that the security forces in Nepal like the Nepal Army, the Armed Police and the Nepal Police have been working as the first responder during the disaster in the country and support and cooperation from all side has been stressed to make the country a safer place in view of the disaster risk. A total of 31 experts and bodies concerned from 17 countries in the South Pacific region including, Sweden, South Korea, Japan, Indonesia, Nepal, Bhutan, Magnolia and Russia are taking part in the meeting. Opening the meeting Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs Bijay Kumar Gachchhadar expressed his hope that meeting would be succeed in making the disaster response services more effective and addressing the international concerns on the issues. Losses of lives and property due to incidents of natural disaster every year has caused negative impact on nation's economic and social development, he said and underlined the need of effective preparedness and mitigating the negative of disasters. The Home Minister pledged to give a particular focus on imparting skill-enhancement training to the human resources working for search and rescue during a time of disaster. Also speaking at the opening session, Home Secretary Sushil Jung Rana expressed his hope that meeting would be fruitful in finding the effective measures for rescue in a case of disaster. Likewise, Joint Secretary at Home Ministry Lakshmi Prasad Dhakal and Nepal is one of the most earthquake prone countries in the country. It has been ranked 11th in regard to vulnerability to earthquake. Similarly, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nepal, Robert Piper, said the UN was providing financial and technical support in the area of disaster management in Nepal. INSARAG Global Chairman Tony Frisch said the issues of natural disasters were the issues of international concerns since it had obstructed the development endeavors. It was the second time that Nepal was hosting the meeting. Earlier, Nepal had hosted the meeting named INSARAG Exercise in April, 2009. nnnn