Kathmandu. President Ram Chandra Poudel addressed the nation on Monday. He addressed the nation on Monday.

Full text of address

Respected sisters and brothers, today we Nepalis are going through a very deep grief and pain. In this difficult and sad moment, I am here to say something to you.

At this time, Nepal is facing a catastrophic natural disaster. The devastating floods caused by the avalanche with ice and rocks of the glacier on 10th Bhadra 2083 have brought unimaginable pain to the Nepalese people. This disaster has swept away countless human lives, homes, families and livelihood bases and caused extensive damage to roads and bridges.

It has also caused serious damage to the country’s critical infrastructure, including hydropower projects.

Today, the whole nation is mourning this terrible calamity, I express my heartfelt tribute to all the citizens who lost their lives in this calamity.

I wish the injured a speedy recovery and a successful search and rescue operation for the missing people. I express my high respect to the Nepal Army, Nepal Police, Armed Police Force, health workers, local people’s representatives, staff, volunteers and all the individuals and organizations involved in the rescue and relief work.

Many of those involved in the rescue work have entered a very dangerous area to rescue the victims and affected citizens without even risking their lives. In fact, I would like to say here with pride that their indomitable courage, dedication, service spirit represents the best human spirit and national character of Nepal.

However, difficult geographical conditions have caused damaged roads and unstable and dangerous conditions to obstruct or abandon the search and rescue operations of missing people. We also express our heartfelt condolences to them.

On behalf of Nepal, I would like to express my heartfelt condolences to all the families who have lost their loved ones. Nepal regards every person on its land as a member of its family. We will work together with the governments and diplomatic missions of the concerned countries where the affected citizens are affected. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all the members of our neighbours, friendly countries and the international community for their prompt support and cooperation by providing immediate search and rescue manpower, technical specialists, medical teams and necessary equipment in this difficult time of great challenges that Nepal is facing.

Right now, we are in such deep pain that we do not have words to reduce it. To all those who are waiting for news from family members and friends, I want to assure you that the search and rescue work will continue. The whole nation is feeling the pain of the moment of uncertainty that you are experiencing.

Every rescued person should have access to food, clean drinking water, safe shelter, necessary medical treatment and psychosocial services. At present, special attention needs to be paid to children, senior citizens, people with disabilities, pregnant women and other vulnerable citizens who need special protection.

At the same time, we should be especially aware and sensitive about the fact that temporary shelters should be safe and dignified. In the case of both Nepali citizens and foreign nationals, it is necessary to provide accurate and reliable information to their families and to provide the necessary facilitation and humanitarian assistance to bring their loved ones home.

I am confident that the government has been working in coordination with all levels, bodies, structures and sides of the state to advance all these works in a more effective manner.

Most importantly, we must ensure that those who lost their lives in this disaster are treated with dignity, respect and compassion. The identification of the deceased should be done with utmost care, sensitivity and responsibility. I am sure that the government will pay special attention to make the identification process credible and systematic by safely preserving DNA samples and other related records as per the requirement.

There is the pain of the homeless, the displaced and the citizens who have lost their livelihood in this natural calamity. Now they need the support of the state. They need trust. I believe that the government, political parties and all civil society organizations are working for this and I want to assure that I am with everyone in this hour of grief. We know that it is the basic duty of a democratic state to listen to the voices of the citizens affected by the disaster and to be sensitive to their suffering.

Therefore, I urge the government and all bodies concerned to take the qualities and demands of the victims not in the form of criticism but as an important signal for a solution.

Dear friends from the international community, this disaster not only shows the extraordinarily fragile state of our mountain ecology, but it has also reaffirmed our grave alert to the ever-increasing global warming and the dangers it poses.

I heartily appeal to the international community not only to listen to the voice of the ecologically affected countries, including Nepal, but also to take concrete and effective steps to ensure climate justice for them. Dear sisters and brothers, you must remember that Nepal has faced earthquakes, floods, landslides, epidemics and various other disasters in the past as well. Every time, the Nepali people have faced such difficult situations with extraordinary courage, patience, timing and indomitable determination.

At this difficult hour, I would like to appeal to all political parties, elected representatives, civil society, humanitarian organizations involved in humanitarian relief and rescue work, private sector, business community and citizens to stand united in this difficult hour.

This is not the time for division, nor is it the time to blame each other or get entangled in political disputes and confrontations. It is a time to show national unity and solidarity. It is also a time for reconstruction, restoration and economic revival. As we move into the process of reconstruction, restoration and economic recovery, I feel that our development model should also be reconsidered. I sincerely pray that God gives all of us the strength and courage needed to face this unexpected and terrible calamity and overcome it.