At a Secretariat meeting held on Wednesday, the party called on the government to act immediately to safeguard those affected, intensify search and rescue operations for missing persons, relocate people living in high-risk areas and ensure prompt medical treatment for the injured.
The meeting also demanded the rapid mobilization of all available disaster-management mechanisms and resources in order to assess the human and material damage and provide both emergency assistance and longer-term relief to affected communities.
In a statement issued by party Chairman KP Sharma Oli after the meeting, the CPN-UML expressed deep sorrow and concern over the extensive human and material losses caused by the floods in settlements including Rasuwagadhi, Timure, Syabrubesi, Mailung, Betrawati and Trishuli, affecting areas of Rasuwa, Nuwakot and Dhading districts.
Areas along the rivers in Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, Gorkha, Chitwan and East Nawalparasi remain at considerable risk due to flooding in the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli rivers. The party therefore urged residents living near riverbanks to exercise maximum caution, remain in safe places, avoid unnecessary or dangerous travel and follow instructions issued by local authorities and security agencies.
The CPN-UML underlined that close cooperation between federal, provincial and local governments, elected representatives, security agencies, political parties, civil society organizations and the wider population is indispensable in confronting the emergency.
“CPN (UML) heartily appeals to all parties to unite for the immediate rescue of those trapped in the flood, free and effective treatment of the injured, and rapid delivery of relief materials to the affected,” the statement said.
The party also instructed its leaders, cadres, members of affiliated organizations and elected representatives to immediately take part in search, rescue and relief operations, coordinate with local authorities and security agencies, and stand at the forefront of humanitarian assistance in the affected areas.
The CPN-UML once again called on the government to act without delay, accelerate rescue operations and ensure that urgently needed relief supplies reach the affected communities as quickly as possible.