Capacity building of 7,272 persons for disaster management: NDMA

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ISLAMABAD: National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) – which aims to develop sustainable operational and professional competence – has arranged capacity building of 7,272 government officials and civilians. The basic objective of training, conducted through over 162 courses, was to provide relief and coordinate an emergency response of the federal government in case of national level disaster.

Climate Change Division sources on Tuesday while detailing the steps taken by government to protect people from ravages of heavy rains and floods during year 2017, said implementation of a roadmap is in focus with respect to preparation of Multi-Hazard Vulnerability Risk Assessment (MHVRA) atlas of the entire country and capacity building of community through a concept of Mobilization of Voluntary Emergency Response (MOVERE).

The sources said the concept of Government Officials Emergency Response Exercise (GOERE) has been introduced which was being executed in three phases; Legislation for stringent enforcement of Building Codes is being pursued, Smart National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) creation is under consideration to strengthen response mechanism.

Moreover, the sources said the process was initiated for an availability of dedicated Aviation Assets to NDMA for disaster management while procurement of heavy earth moving machinery was being arranged to ensure connectivity of remote areas, especially Gilgit-Baltistan with the country.

Other steps were an improvement in capabilities of emergency services like Rescue 1122 and Civil Defence at a district level to manage multiple disasters; integration of youth, boy scouts and girl guides in disaster management through the concept of the MOVERE was being pursued.

Replying to a question, the sources said development of a robust National Disaster Management Information System is being undertaken through a phased approach and development of a database for disaggregated data of vulnerable groups was also being undertaken. It has already been completed for 25 out of 157 districts at the national level, the sources added.

Moreover, National Early Warning System (NEWS) for communities was being developed in consultation with Pakistan Telecommunications Authority (PTA) to institutionalise present SMS-based alert system while in Advocacy & Awareness domain, a case for inclusion of subjects of climate change phenomenon and disaster management in academic curricula of schools was being pursued to create mass awareness.

The sources said a concerted media awareness campaign was being launched, comprising public service messages through electronic media, the private sector and other stakeholders, to bring awareness, risk reduction and response.

In order to mitigate losses during disasters, close liaison is maintained with all stakeholders by the NDMA which has been proactively working to reduce risks and vulnerabilities to disasters and provide coping mechanisms/framework to climate change phenomenon.