A Disaster Operation Centre (DOC) will be established at 2,000 sq. meters area in Islamabad with the technical and logistic support of Turkish Red Crescent Society. This was disclosed by Omer Tasli, Manager Turkish Red Crescent (TRC) accompanied by Erdem Matuf, Consul General of Turkey while addressing to a media briefing here on Thursday.
A delegation of Turkish Red Crescent headed by Omer Tasli is on a visit to Pakistan these days. The proposed centre would be completed by October 2008 and work on it has already been started, he said and added that 50 people from all major organisations would be provided training for this purpose.
Over 450 experts will come to Pakistan to impart training to the Pakistani staff of DOC and of Pakistan Red Crescent, he said. The DOC will be provided all logistic system to handle the situation in case of any disaster to the country. Disaster Management Software would be installed in the centre, which is being equipped with latest machinery.
Omer said that until DOC has not become functional we would remain focus on human resource department for next one year. He said that logistic link from Turkey to Azad and Jammu Kashmir was being established aimed at removing all communication impediments so that in case of any calamity, prompt relief could be provided to disaster-hit areas.
Turkey has constructed 5,000 sq. meters covered area as headquarter for the use of Pakistan Red Crescent Society in Muzaffarabad, AJK, he said and added that 2,500 people would be recruited for the headquarter. He said that during the visit, the delegation met Pakistan Red Crescent Society and exchanged views regarding the situation in earthquake-hit areas and prospects of their bilateral co-operation in this respect.
As known, the Turkish Red Crescent Society was among first relief organisation that reached the affected areas just after earthquake occurred in Muzaffarabad in October 2005. Citing example of devastating quake in Turkey way back in 1999, Omer said that it would take another four to five years to rehabilitate and reconstruct the quake-ravaged areas. Even in US, disasters could not be controlled as witnessed during hurricane of 'Qatrina,' he said and added that there was difference between Bush management and disaster management.
It is worth mentioning that according to the agreement signed between two national red crescent societies, a collaboration in terms of disaster management, training and psychological support have been initiated. The bilateral co-operation between two societies will be undertaken for next three years.
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