KATHMANDU, Dec 3: European Union (EU) Ambassador to Nepal, Veronique Lorenzo, has commenced a five-day mission to visit EU-funded projects in Karnali Province, Nepal.
Ambassador Lorenzo is assessing the progress and impact of initiatives aimed at disaster preparedness and resilience-building in one of Nepal's most vulnerable regions from December 2. The visit will last till December 6, according to press statement issued by UNDP in Nepal.
During the visit, Ambassador Lorenzo and her team are engaging with provincial and local government officials, project staff, and beneficiaries of the Strengthening Urban Preparedness and Earthquake Response (SUPER) project. The initiative, funded by the EU and implemented by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in collaboration with the Government of Nepal, UNICEF, and UN Women, is designed to bolster earthquake preparedness and address urban risks.
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The SUPER project, with a budget of USD 2.68 million (EUR 2.56 million), benefits over 500,000 people, including marginalized communities across Karnali, Lumbini, and Sudurpaschim provinces. Key municipalities involved are Nepalgunj Sub-Metropolitan City, Dhangadhi Sub-Metropolitan City, and Birendranagar Municipality.
In Surkhet, Ambassador Lorenzo visited the Provincial Emergency Operation Center (EOC), which played a pivotal role in managing coordination and information during the November 2023 earthquake in Western Nepal. She met with Kamala Yogi, Administrative Officer of the Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) section of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Law (MoIAL) in Karnali Province.
Ambassador Lorenzo highlighted the EU’s commitment to supporting disaster preparedness and response efforts in Nepal. “It is crucial for the EU to remain engaged in activities that enhance disaster resilience in this region,” she stated. In response, Yogi expressed gratitude for the EU’s continued investment in strengthening local capacities to address and mitigate disaster risks.
The SUPER project builds on the achievements of the EU-supported SUPER-I initiative (2021-2024) and incorporates lessons learned from recent earthquakes in Jajarkot and Bajhang districts. Now in its third phase, which began in August 2024, SUPER-II focuses on strengthening provincial and municipal disaster management systems and their integration with federal disaster risk reduction frameworks.
The project is funded by the Directorate General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG ECHO). It engages diverse stakeholders, including parliamentarians, municipal associations, government training institutions, NGOs, media, and the private sector, to ensure comprehensive disaster risk management.
