September 2023 Analysis: National Security and Climate Change
In order to improve the security management in the airport premises, Government of Nepal has started planning to install advance technological. The Ministry of Health and Population began the vaccination programme against Human Papillomavirus since 13th September, 2023. On the Climate Action Ambition Summit-2023, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal highlighted the need of collective action to tackle climate crisis. The month of September also saw the religious clashes between the communities.
The current action of Nepal’s government on upgrading the security measures depicts the seriousness of Government towards minimizing the criminal and unwanted activities in the airport premises. The installation of the advanced X-ray machine could be one of the solution to control such activities from happening in the future as the existing X-ray machine only shows black marks when goods made of iron, gold and vermillion pass through it, and doesn’t distinguish if any metal is hidden inside them.
The Ministry of Health and Population has started the demo vaccination programme against the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) since 13th September, 2023. The vaccine against HPV is provided in at least one hospital in all the seven provinces of Nepal. According to WHO, Human Papilloma Virus is spread through skin contact and is 70% responsible for causing cervical cancer cases in women. The vaccine is administered in two doses over the period of six months. Currently, due to the limited number of vaccine, Ministry of Health and Population has been providing the vaccines only to the girls aged between 11-13 years.
Starting the immunization programme against HPV is the good step taken by the government to minimize the number of cervical cancer cases in the country. According to BP Koirala Memorial Cancer Hospital, nearly 700 women seek treatment for the cervical cancer every year. However, despite the efforts of government, it has been reported only few uptakes of the vaccine. Hence, to increase the immunized population against HPV, government should prioritize the awareness campaign as many people are unaware about the need of vaccine. Likewise, Government should make an effort to increase the number of the available vaccine doses and should also focus on increasing the number of immunization center so it is feasible for the targeted group of people.
On 20th September, 2023; Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal attended the Climate Action Ambition Summit-2023 which was held on United Nation’s Headquarter in New York. In the summit, Prime Minister mentioned that inspite of having low emissions and large forested areas, Nepal has been suffering from the issues of climate crisis. Prime Minister also pointed out the need of collective action to tackle the global challenges of the climate change. Also, in the summit he highlighted Nepal’s target to achieve net zero emission scenario by 2045.
Around the world, global warming has caused severe climatic issues. In the country like Nepal where the Himalayas are the source of fresh water, the continuous decrease of the ice has started causing continuous hazards to glaciers and lakes. Moreover, country is facing multiple issues of floods and landslides. Hence, to mitigate and minimize the consequences of climate crisis, the concerned authority must make an appropriate plan and act accordingly. Similarly, campaign on awareness of climate change, afforestation programme and also increase in the crop production on the barren land should be prioritized. Furthermore, to meet the target of zero emission, Government of Nepal must promote the use of electric vehicles in the country.
Malangwa witnessed the series of clashes between two communities on 8th September, 2023 and 21st September, 2023. In order to avoid the furthermore conflict in Malangwa, District Administration Office announced the curfew order. Whether it be communal Tension at Ram Navami Rallies in Janakpur, Hindu radical group rallying in Dharan, and recently the communal clashes in Malangwa, there has been a surge in communal violence. The multiple clashes reflects religious extremism gaining a foothold in Nepal, which poses a grave security threat to religious harmony and secularism. Such communal violence would ultimately affect people on a domestic level and may cause a ripple effect within the state institutions.
Timeline of Major Events
Date | Events |
8 September | Malangwa witnessed curfew order after the clashes between the communities |
12 September | Government of Nepal began planning to install advanced X-ray machine at the Tribhuvan International Airport |
13 September | The Ministry of Health and Population started a vaccination programme against Human Papillomavirus (HPV) |
20 September | Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal attended Climate Action Ambition Summit-2023 held on United Nations Headquarters, New York |
Planning for upgrading the Security system in TIA
On 12th September, 2023; Government of Nepal announced the ongoing planning for the installation of advanced X-ray machine at the customs of the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA). The Director General at the Department of Customs mentioned that the budget of Rs. 68.5 million had been sent to TIA customs for upgrading the technologies. The Government’s decision for the upgradation of the technologies might be because of the constant questioning on Nepal’s airport security management since the confiscation of 60KG gold which had passed through TIA’s custom on 19th July, 2023.The current action of Nepal’s government on upgrading the security measures depicts the seriousness of Government towards minimizing the criminal and unwanted activities in the airport premises. The installation of the advanced X-ray machine could be one of the solution to control such activities from happening in the future as the existing X-ray machine only shows black marks when goods made of iron, gold and vermillion pass through it, and doesn’t distinguish if any metal is hidden inside them.
Demo-Vaccination Programme for Human Papilloma Virus began
The Ministry of Health and Population has started the demo vaccination programme against the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) since 13th September, 2023. The vaccine against HPV is provided in at least one hospital in all the seven provinces of Nepal. According to WHO, Human Papilloma Virus is spread through skin contact and is 70% responsible for causing cervical cancer cases in women. The vaccine is administered in two doses over the period of six months. Currently, due to the limited number of vaccine, Ministry of Health and Population has been providing the vaccines only to the girls aged between 11-13 years.
Starting the immunization programme against HPV is the good step taken by the government to minimize the number of cervical cancer cases in the country. According to BP Koirala Memorial Cancer Hospital, nearly 700 women seek treatment for the cervical cancer every year. However, despite the efforts of government, it has been reported only few uptakes of the vaccine. Hence, to increase the immunized population against HPV, government should prioritize the awareness campaign as many people are unaware about the need of vaccine. Likewise, Government should make an effort to increase the number of the available vaccine doses and should also focus on increasing the number of immunization center so it is feasible for the targeted group of people.
Advocacy for Climate Crisis
On 20th September, 2023; Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal attended the Climate Action Ambition Summit-2023 which was held on United Nation’s Headquarter in New York. In the summit, Prime Minister mentioned that inspite of having low emissions and large forested areas, Nepal has been suffering from the issues of climate crisis. Prime Minister also pointed out the need of collective action to tackle the global challenges of the climate change. Also, in the summit he highlighted Nepal’s target to achieve net zero emission scenario by 2045.
Around the world, global warming has caused severe climatic issues. In the country like Nepal where the Himalayas are the source of fresh water, the continuous decrease of the ice has started causing continuous hazards to glaciers and lakes. Moreover, country is facing multiple issues of floods and landslides. Hence, to mitigate and minimize the consequences of climate crisis, the concerned authority must make an appropriate plan and act accordingly. Similarly, campaign on awareness of climate change, afforestation programme and also increase in the crop production on the barren land should be prioritized. Furthermore, to meet the target of zero emission, Government of Nepal must promote the use of electric vehicles in the country.
Religious Fundamentalism on rise
Malangwa witnessed the series of clashes between two communities on 8th September, 2023 and 21st September, 2023. In order to avoid the furthermore conflict in Malangwa, District Administration Office announced the curfew order. Whether it be communal Tension at Ram Navami Rallies in Janakpur, Hindu radical group rallying in Dharan, and recently the communal clashes in Malangwa, there has been a surge in communal violence. The multiple clashes reflects religious extremism gaining a foothold in Nepal, which poses a grave security threat to religious harmony and secularism. Such communal violence would ultimately affect people on a domestic level and may cause a ripple effect within the state institutions.
CESIF Nepal