Kathmandu: Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development, Ramnath Adhikari, has warned that Nepal remains highly vulnerable to natural disasters due to its diverse and fragile geography. Speaking at the Ministerial Conference on Integrated Multilateral Risk Early Warning in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Minister Adhikari emphasized that disasters such as floods, landslides, droughts, lightning, glacial lake outbursts, and cold waves continue to cause massive loss of life and property every year.

Highlighting Nepal’s topographical span from the lowland Terai to the high Himalayas, Adhikari said that this geographical complexity makes the country particularly susceptible to multi-hazard disasters that disrupt infrastructure and economic activities.

According to his secretariat, Adhikari stated that Nepal is committed to mainstreaming risk-related data into both national and local development planning. He emphasized the importance of building institutional capacity and delivering early warnings and life-saving information to vulnerable communities, particularly in remote and mountainous regions.

"Climate change has heightened both the frequency and unpredictability of disasters. The brunt of these impacts is being borne by the most remote and disadvantaged populations," Adhikari noted.

He also stressed the need for enhanced regional cooperation, stating that Nepal advocates for a shared vision and stronger collaboration among member countries to build a climate-resilient and effective early warning system.

The Colombo conference, jointly organized by the Government of Sri Lanka and the Regional Integrated Multi-Hazard Early Warning System (RIMES), brought together leaders from Asia and Africa