Over 3,600 to receive disaster volunteer training
KATHMANDU, May 30: The Armed Police Force (APF) is set to mobilize approximately 170,000 disaster informants across the country, recognizing the vital role of local communities in disaster management. These informants will assist in receiving disaster-related information, facilitating mobilization, and coordinating rescue efforts at the community level.
To achieve this, all battalion headquarters must form disaster informant groups in every ward under their jurisdiction by the end of Jestha (mid-June). Each ward will have 25 informants, leading to the formation of 168,575 disaster informants across the 6,745 wards in the country.
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The APF Headquarters believe that this initiative will enable the rapid flow of disaster-related information, making it easier to deploy security personnel and carry out rescue operations accordingly. Once the disaster informant groups are formed, the APF also plans to provide them with disaster awareness training and involve them in disaster simulation exercises.
Meanwhile, the APF is also preparing to train community-based disaster responders. During the closing ceremony of a diving training program held on May 21 at the Disaster Management Training School in Kurintar, APF Inspector General Raju Aryal announced plans to train around 1,000 community disaster responders across all seven provinces within this year.
Accordingly, the APF headquarters has already initiated disaster responder volunteer training programs at its subordinate offices. As part of the preparation, an 18-day training will be provided to develop community-based disaster volunteers. The training will be conducted by skilled APF personnel who have received specialized disaster management training.
The APF provincial headquarters and the National Armed Police Force Academy will immediately run 18 such training sessions within the current Fiscal Year (FY). Additionally, 147 more sessions are planned for FY 2025/26. These training programs aim to enhance community-level preparedness and facilitate effective rescue and relief operations during disasters.
The APF Nepal No 23 Mankamana Battalion in Tanahun has commenced community disaster volunteer training. In coordination with local governments and concerned stakeholders, the battalion is conducting training for 58 participants.
During the training, disaster response equipment available at the local municipalities will be used, and if insufficient, equipment from the respective APF offices will be utilized. Skilled trainers for the sessions will be arranged by the APF training academy and battalion headquarters. The APF also plans to repeat such training in municipalities that are particularly vulnerable to natural disasters.
