Climate change pattern is giving birth to extreme weather events, currents showers in the country are part of that phenomenon. Unless disaster risk reduction activities are not linked to the development, we will be facing massive losses of the disasters. Sustainability needs disaster risk reduction conscious development.
This was stated in a workshop held at HID Hall, Safwco, Qasimabad, Hyderabad. The seven days Training of Trainer's (ToT) workshop titled 'Community-Based Disaster Risk Reduction Management' which was organised by Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF) started here on Wednesday where 28 representatives of four non-profit leading organisations including Safwco, participated. The course of the workshop is designed to enable participants to effectively integrate disaster management into their programmes and policies as well as to develop key skills and adopt proactive attitudes through participation in interactive lectures and reflection on a range of key issues raised during discussions and practical activities.
Naunehal Shah, team leader Disaster, Preparedness and Management unit, PPAF who has extensive experience on DRR, told the workshop that Pakistan faces heavy human and economic losses from disasters, whose frequency and intensity is increasing drastically in recent years. He was of the view that development is directly linked to the disaster risk reduction, if we ignore it, the sustainability cannot take place. In order to meet the challenge, PPAF has designed the Disaster Management Strategy and Investment Programme recently which is a framework for action by PPAF and its partner organisations with the purpose to integrate mitigation and prevention measures in interventions for disaster risk reduction and to achieve adequate preparedness to cope with an anticipated disaster before it sets.
He further said that many initiatives have been proposed under this strategy to enhance the capacity of partner organisations. The staff which is being trained will further train the community volunteers regarding disaster risk reduction, preparedness and mitigation. Suleman G Abro, founder and President, Safwco said that Pakistan has faced the loss of more than $12 billion since the super flood of 2010. This phenomenon has given birth to economic deprivation and extreme poverty in across country especially in Sindh. He further said that PPAF is gong to train its partner organisations so that they can train the communities regarding disaster risk reduction and preparedness activities.
Muhammad Abid, Senior Manager, Disaster, Preparedness and Management Unit, PPAF told the participants about types of disasters in his detailed presentation. He said that more than 30 million people have been affected by disasters in Pakistan over the past three years. Pakistan is vulnerable by its extreme climatic zones, its eroding coastline and the volatile River Indus. He said that climate change is raising the frequency and scale of disasters in the country, and previously un-exposed regions might experience the disasters as well.
Muhammad Sajid, Sehrash Mumtaz, Shah Khalid, Adil Badshah, Kashif Hafeez, Nadia Larik and Muhammad Khan Jamali and other experts took part in discussion. The subjects will be covered in the training during coming days include disaster risk reduction in Pakistan, national disaster risk management framework, DRR at community level, preparedness, mitigation, prevention etc. The workshop will continue till April 15, 2013.
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