Mr. Choudhury congratulated the Director General on his appointment and described the NADMO leadership role as challenging yet essential. He also commended the organisation and other stakeholders for their prompt response to the situation in Sawla, while reaffirming the UN’s ongoing support in disaster management.

The Director General expressed appreciation to the UN for their assistance and collaboration in efforts to restore normalcy in the affected areas. He, however, raised concerns about mistrust among some inter-agency working groups, stressing that the figures NADMO releases on displaced people are not exaggerated.

“Our officers are on the ground from the regional level down to the zonal level, working diligently to gather accurate data. However, because displaced people continue to move, the numbers fluctuate frequently. Unfortunately, the inter-agency working groups tend to believe the media more than the official figures,” he noted, urging agencies to build confidence in their work.

The UN Resident Coordinator acknowledged the challenges regarding assessment, revealing that while the UN merely plays an auxiliary role and is not a government institution, it continues to work closely with national authorities.

He disclosed that a major challenge has been the reliance on government statistics for assessments, but he praised NADMO for its dedication, adding that he had received praise for the organisation’s work from various quarters.

The discussions also addressed the current and anticipated needs of displaced people, with both parties reaffirming their commitment to strengthening coordination for an effective response.