KATHMANDU- India became the first country to ratify the SAARC Agreement on Rapid Response to Natural Disasters, South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Secretariat in the Nepali capital Kathmandu said on Wednesday.
Concerned at the increasing frequency and scale of natural disasters in the South Asian region and their damaging impacts, the agreement provides for a Natural Disaster Rapid Response Mechanism to enable member states to adopt a coordinated and planned approach to provide timely relief and humanitarian assistance in emergencies arising out of natural disasters.

It was signed by the SAARC foreign ministers during the 17th SAARC Summit held in Addu City of Maldives in November last year.

On behalf of the Indian government, Jaideep Mazumdar, charge d' affaires at the Embassy of India in Kathmandu, handed over the original Instrument of Ratification of the Agreement to SAARC Secretary General Ahmed Saleem.

"At the meeting with the charge d'affaires of the Indian Embassy, the Secretary General complimented the Government of India for taking the initiative to sign the Agreement and hoped that other countries will follow suit as early as possible," the SAARC Secretariat said in a statement.

Founded in 1985, the SAARC comprises eight South Asian nations, namely Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan. (Xinhua)