UML criticises government’s disaster response, says ‘more could have been done’

Kathmandu, September 15

The opposition CPN-UML has urged the government not to adopt an attitude that it can handle disasters on its own.

Speaking during Tuesday’s meeting of the House of Representatives, UML lawmaker Padma Kumari Aryal criticised the government for failing to carry out some of the immediate measures required following the floods.

Aryal said the government should have sought assistance through a public appeal, formal requests and diplomatic initiatives immediately after the disaster.

“The government should have sought support through an immediate public appeal, requests and diplomatic initiatives. We failed on that front,” she said.

She also said the government could have contacted and mobilised engineers and experts from schools, colleges and other institutions to support disaster response efforts.

Addressing Prime Minister Balen Shah, Aryal said all political parties share the same concern for the country and its people.

“The government should have learned from previous disaster experiences and immediately called an all-party meeting for discussion. That too did not happen,” she said.

“I want to say this — please do not have the arrogance of thinking that ‘I alone am enough’ during this disaster. Prime Minister, you cannot say that you love the country and its people more than we do,” Aryal said.

She clarified that her criticism did not mean the government had done nothing in response to the disaster.

“I am not saying that nothing has been done. I am saying that more could have been done,” she said.

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