This year, extreme heat waves, as well as flash floods, landslides, and other water-related hazards have hit millions of people across the Hindu Kush Himalayas (HKH). While historically the different communities living in the region have developed resilience strategies to cope with these harsh conditions, climate change has heightened these risks. Rapid glacier melt, unpredictable weather, and frequent disasters make disaster management an area for urgent improvement.
In September 2024, national disaster management authorities (NDMAs) from Nepal, Bhutan, and Pakistan came together in Islamabad to share their experiences and learn from each other. This exchange visit, organized by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) and Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), aimed to strengthen regional cooperation and find common ways to deal with climate-related disasters. The visit allowed experts to exchange ideas on how to respond to disasters and reduce the risks faced by communities living in this challenging region.
During the exchange visit, a key highlight was a Joint Simulation Exercise held at the National Emergency Operations Center in Islamabad. This exercise focused on the critical risk of Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs), drawing attention to GLOF events like the Badswat GLOF in Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan, and the Imja Glacier in Khumjung, Nepal. With representatives from Nepal, Bhutan, and Pakistan actively participating, the simulation allowed disaster management experts to share their preparedness and response strategies in each scenario.
Pakistan’s NDMA has dealt with many different types of natural disasters over the years, from a major earthquake in 2005, to the devastating floods of 2010 and 2022. During the visit, participants learnt how the agency deploys disaster management technologies, tools and approaches in emergencies.
Pakistan’s disaster management system is decentralized, meaning local authorities at the provincial and district levels have the power to respond quickly to emergencies. This structure ensures that communities across the country are better prepared for disasters, with faster response times and strategies tailored to the needs of each region.
One of the key messages from the exchange was the need for countries in the HKH region to work together more closely. As past disasters such as floods and landslides show, hazards do not stop at national borders. Transboundary cooperation in areas like early warning systems, data sharing, joint disaster simulations, and coordinated response strategies is essential for effective disaster management.
Participants discussed the potential for creating a regional platform where disaster management authorities from the HKH region could regularly meet to share data, strategies, and best practices. The idea of a regional early warning system also gained attention. Such a system could help countries share important information about incoming disasters, allowing for faster and more coordinated responses. This kind of collaboration could make a huge difference in saving lives and reducing the impact of natural disasters in the region.
Moving Forward Together
This exchange visit is just one step toward a larger goal: building a more resilient future for the HKH region. As climate change continues to increase the frequency and intensity of natural disasters, cooperation between the region’s NDMAs will be more important than ever.
Lt. General Inam Malik, Chairman of NDMA Pakistan, highlighted the importance of both sharing Pakistan’s experiences and learning from its neighbours, particularly in areas like climate-induced tourism risks. His vision for collaboration focuses on several key areas:
- Establishing technical working groups to address mountain-specific disasters that impact the entire region.
- Creating a shared inventory of disaster management equipment for cross-border deployment during major emergencies.
- Strengthening capacity in search and rescue operations, leveraging Pakistan’s expertise in urban search and rescue, and benefiting from Nepal’s participation in the upcoming International Search and Rescue Advisory Group( INSARAG) Asia Pacific Earthquake Response exercise in Lahore.
Anil Pokhrel, Chief Executive of Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, noted the shared experiences of Nepal and Pakistan in facing large-scale seismic and climate-induced disasters. “This exchange has offered us important lessons from Pakistan’s advancements in disaster response, particularly in their emergency operations,” he said. “By working together, we can enhance our preparedness for glacial lake outburst floods, a common threat driven by climate change, and identify new opportunities for collaboration in disaster risk management.”
Sonam Tshewang, Executive Engineer at Bhutan's Ministry of Home Affairs, emphasized the importance of regional cooperation. “This initiative underscores how critical it is for our countries to work together. The knowledge we have gained here will enhance our disaster management efforts back home.”
Arun B. Shrestha, who leads ICIMOD’s Climate and Environmental Risks work, reiterated the value of the exchange in preparing for future disasters. “ICIMOD’s mission is to promote knowledge-sharing and strengthen the network of disaster management professionals across the region. The challenges we face are collective, and so too must be our solutions.”
