General Secretary Chaudhary visited to Aston University, Birmingham, United Kingdom

Mr. Narurlal Chaudhary, General Secretary of the MuAN and Mayor of Ghorahi Sub-Metropolitan City, Dang district, was invited to deliver a keynote speech in an international conference and study tour organised by Aston Business School (ABS), Aston University, United Kingdom from 12th – 14th May 2024.

The event was jointly organised by Birmingham City Council, London Borough of Hounslow Council, Tzu Chi Foundation UK, Tzu Chi University and National Science and Technology Center for Disaster Reduction (NCDR) and The Presbyterian Church in Taiwan (PCT). General Secretary Chaudhary led two member Nepalese delegation which was officially approved by the Government of Nepal, Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration.

Delivering his keynote speech General Secretary Chaudhary appreciated the efforts of academics and researchers of Aston Business School (ABS), Aston University to strengthen local environmental hazards monitoring system in six municipalities of Lumbini Province of Nepal with the support of the NCDR. General Secretary Chaudhary further elaborated that This relationship with Aston University stands as a testament to how collaboration can foster local disaster resilience and fortify crisis management efforts, especially in regions like the Himalayas in South Asia where vulnerability to multiple natural disasters like earthquakes, flooding, forest fires and landslides are significantly frequently impacting local communities.

Highlighting localised vulnerability to multiple hazards General Secretary Chaudhary who is also the Mayor of Ghorahi Sub- Metropolitan City shared with delegates that As someone elected as a mayor of Ghorahi Sub Metropolitan City, a municipality and entire Dang valley is highly susceptible to earthquakes forest fire and landslides, I believe this type of collaborations are crucial in equipping communities with the knowledge and resources needed to mitigate risks and respond effectively in times of crises.

As a side event of the confidence, Mayor Chaurhary had a bilateral meeting with Professor Zoe Radnor, Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Executive Dean of the College of Business and Social Sciences at Aston University to expand further collaboration on disaster risk reduction and response governance, net zero and circular economy and public health subject area between Ghorahi Sub- Metropolitan City, Dang Valley based institutions and Aston University of the United Kingdom.

As a part of study visit Mayor Chaurhary visited to Birmingham Emergency Operation Centre and London Borough of Hounslow Emergency Operation Centre and interacted with senior emergency planning officials.

General Secretary Chaudhary also visited University College of London where he had a meeting with Prof. Mark Pelling, Dr. Mohammad Shamsudduha ( Shams) and Dr. Gianluca Pescaroli and discussed various aspects of disaster risk reduction and response governance project implementing challenges in the Himalayas. This meeting was facilitated by Dr. Komal Raj Aryal, Director for the MSc Crisis and Disaster Management Programme of Aston University.