The Municipal Disaster Management Authorities (MDMA) will be established in the quake-affected cities of Muzaffarabad and Mansehra to enhance the capacity of local authorities for effective disaster risk management.
MDMA will work under the earthquake vulnerability reduction and preparedness programme initiated by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) assisted by Government of Japan.
This was informed to the participants of the project inception workshop on" earthquake vulnerability reduction and preparedness programme in Muzaffarabad and Mansehra municipalities" jointly organised by the NDMA and UNDP. The programme aimed at building institutes and capacities to integrate earthquake vulnerability reduction in the reconstruction process and the overall development planning of the two municipalities.
22 small schemes will be completed in these two cities including reconstruction and retrofitting of public buildings like schools, hospitals, bridges, and evacuation of routes, awareness drives and technical assistance.
The Chairman NDMA Lieutenant General Farooq Ahmad (R) addressing the workshop said the programme has started in consultation with the ERRA in municipalities of Mansehra and Muzaffarabad. "Initially we will work in two cities move ahead to other affected areas at a later stage," he said. He also hoped that workshop will help creating understanding among concerned stakeholders regarding the MDMA set up in two municipalities.
Further he explained the programme would assess the fault-lines study, vulnerability of buildings, housing infrastructure and other kinds of construction in these two cities regarding. The programme will analyse the extent of vulnerability of different social groups in the towns besides classifying population at high, medium and low risk vulnerabilities.
Also it would offer consultancy to the community members and social organisations to build capacity local human resources. The speakers informed the participants that the project would be launched in two cities for educating people the quick alert for any disaster like situation as not any educational institute offers subjects relating to the crisis.
The joint speakers of the NDMA and UNDP also said that the project would further strengthen the ongoing projects of ERRA in the quake-affected areas besides improving overall development planning.
Further they apprised the participants, the NDMA will engage international and national institutions for future capacity building and the step would develop risk information, planning, technology training and the authority is already working to promote general education and awareness in connection with disaster management.