Chairman of Nepal Red Cross Society Ramesh Kumar Sharma formally launched the World Disasters Report 2004 amidst a function in Kathmandu on 17th November 2004. The report that was launched worldwide on 28th of October focuses on community resilience for post disaster recovery. Speaking on the occasion Chairman Sharma highlighted the usefulness of the report for the people and agencies working in the field of disaster relief and management.
Presenting on the report, Federation Representative to Nepal Karin Hakansson-Furga highlighted the need to focus on capacity building of the community people rather than vulnerability assessment and external aid. "Local capacity and strength pays much more than what external aid can do," she focused.
Secretary General of Nepal Red Cross Society presented on Nepal Red Cross efforts to address the issue through its community based disaster preparedness programmes. "Our Community Based Disaster Preparedness Programmes have clearly exemplified what has been mentioned in the World Disaster Report of this year," he said.
Representatives of the UN and other agencies working in the field of disaster, the ICRC, journalists from national and international media and high level officials of the Nepal Red Cross Society were present in the launching ceremony.