Armies from 20 countries convene in Nepal for 14 days drill

Kathmandu, Aug 6: An exercise of high-ranking military officials from 20 countries has started here aimed at how the information flow could be systematised maintaining contact with multi-national armies while deploying in humanitarian rescue at times of disaster.

The exercise is organised by the Nepalese Army with cooperation of the US Army’s Pacific Command.

Theoretical and practical exercises would be conducted on making the contact and coordination in humanitarian works among the multi-national forces effective at times of disaster through the telecommunication signals operated by the armies of each country.

Two hundred and seventy five soldiers up to the rank of Major General from various countries are participating in the exercise. It is believed that this kind of exercise would contribute a lot towards updating the telecommunications used by the armies in rendering the responsibility and humanitarian rescue works systematised during deployment in the incidents of big natural disasters such as the tsunami that struck Japan in 2005.

The national armies of Nepal, Australia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Fiji, France, Indonesia, Japan, Mongolia, Maldives, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Togo, Vietnam, South Korea, Papua New Guinea and America are taking part in the 14-day-long exercise.

The Nepalese Army had made an effective contact, cooperation and coordination with the multi-national force using its signal during the Gorkha earthquake that struck Nepalon 25 April 2015, based on the knowledge it gained through such exercises in the past.

This is the second exercise of this kind being hosted by the Nepalese Army with the objective of acquiring information on the kind of developments taking place in the field of information and technology. These exercises are held in different countries annually.

Inaugurating the exercise, Director General of Military Operations, Major General Prabhuram Sharma said these kinds of exercise would be very meaningful as they would help maintain contact and coordination with the multi-national forces in preventing loss of lives and in making the rescue works effective during the times of disasters.

He recalled the excellent level of coordination and support that was maintained among the multi-national force in Nepal during the time of the Gorkha Earthquake. Major General Sharma highlighted the importance of exchange and management of information at times of such emergencies.

Christie Wilson of the US Army opined that humanitarian works could be made much more effective through the deployment of the multi-national force in a coordinated manner during the time of natural disaster. RSS