10/28/2016

Seminar on Awareness Raising for National Disaster Management Day

Rural Development Policy institute (RDPI)

Report of Seminar on Awareness Raising on National Disaster Management Day 1

Introduction of National Disaster Awareness Day

Pakistan is the most vulnerable to natural disaster; every year natural calamities upset people’s lives and properties in some part of the country. Mostly riverine flood, flash flood, drought, erosion and landslide create trouble and damage in Pakistan. Over the past decades, climate change has added significant layers over the traditional disaster management initiatives. In 2005 earthquake, most of the devastation hit north Pakistan and Azad Kashmir. In Kashmir, the four districts were badly affected and Muzaffarabad, the state capital of Azad Kashmir, was hardest hit in terms of casualties and destruction. Hospitals, schools, and rescue services including police and armed forces were paralysed. There was virtually no infrastructure and communication was badly affected.

The Pakistani government’s official death toll as of November 2005 stood at 87,350, although it is estimated that the death toll could reach over 100,000. Approximately 138,000 were injured and over 3.5 million rendered homeless. According to government figures, 19,000 children died in the earthquake, most of them in widespread collapses of school buildings. The earthquake affected more than 500,000 families. In addition, approximately 250,000 farm animals died due to collapse of stone barns, and more than 500,000 large animals required immediate shelter from the harsh winter. Reports indicate that entire towns and villages were completely wiped out in northern Pakistan, with other surrounding areas also suffering severe damage.

In this regards Government of Pakistan notified as October,8 a “National Disaster Awareness Day” and declared to observed every year in remembrance of the Martyrs of October 8, 2005 Earthquake, the greatest of Disasters in the history of Pakistan.

Objective of the Day

The objective of this event is to express solidarity with the bereaved families who lost their family members on that October day and to arise the spirit of individuals, group and line department’s enrichment to face the challenges in the post disaster scenario in Rajan Pur.

Proceeding of Seminar

RDPI organized a seminar for awareness raising and challenges/mitigation regarding National Disaster Management Day with the collaboration of Rescue 1122, Civil Defense, Local Government and District Government Departments.

Agenda of the event is mention below:

Report of Seminar on Awareness Raising on National Disaster Management Day 2

Activity Time ResponsibilityRecitation & Welcome Note 9:45 to 10:00 M Raheel Project Introduction of RDPI 10:00 to 10:20 Ibrahim Khan Introduction of Disaster Day 10:20 to 10:40 M Raheel Ahmad Civil Society and Government Role in Disaster

10:40 to 11:10 Civil Defence

Lesson Learnt and Way Forward 11:10 to 11:40 Dr. Aslam (DEO-1122)

Open Forum 11:40 to 12:15 M Raheel Ahmad Conclusion & vote of thanks 12:15 to 12:30 Chief Guest

Local Government, elected representatives, social welfare & Baitulmal, women development department, 1122, Civil Defense, NGOs, media representatives, lawyers, community representatives of relevant UCs and local organizations representatives participated in the activity. Seminar started with the recitation of Holy Quran on 10 o clock.

Mr. M Raheel Field Officer briefed about the background of the day and said that main slogans of this year’s National Disaster Management Day is “Hamara Azam Tayyar Pakistan. The 8th October always remind us a tragic disaster occurred in 2005, an earthquake of 7.6 magnitude that hit Pakistan & Kashmir perished nearly 90,000 lives. It was not the end , five years later in 2010 Pakistan faced another disaster in the shape of flood that affected almost 20 million people and estimated loss of Rs 855 billion. The Government of Pakistan has declared it “National Disaster Management Day” to sensitize community to learn from disaster and to make the community more resilient for upcoming disasters.

Mr. Ibrahim (Project Manager RDPI) briefed about the project and describe through presentation that Rural Development Policy Institute (RDPI) is a civil initiative aimed to stimulate public dialogue on policies, inform public action, and activate social regrouping to celebrate capacities and address vulnerabilities of resource-poor rural communities in Pakistan. RDPI undertakes research, planning, policy advice and demonstration of pilot projects in the key thematic areas of disaster risk management, environment, adaptation to climate change, sustainable livelihoods, appropriate technologies, supporting local government system, community media, and basic education. Established in 2002 and registered in 2003, Rural Development Policy Institute is a non-government development, research and advocacy organization registered under the Trust Act 1882 of Pakistan.Head office of RDPI is situated in

Report of Seminar on Awareness Raising on National Disaster Management Day 3

Islamabad including district offices in Muzaffargarh and Rajanpur . In past RDPI had a regional office in Multan, four District Offices in Sind (Thatta, Khairpur, Ghotki and Jacobabad) and three District Offices in Southern Punjab (Muzaffargarh, Rajanpur, and Layyah). Currently RDPI is working under the project “Local authorities and Civil Society Organizations in Development of Flood Affected Population in Muzaffargarh and Rajanpur Districts” with the collaboration of WHH and EU. Overall objective of the project is action contributes to build and promote an inclusive and empowered society by I) improving access to services and resources for population excluded from policy-making process, II) strengthening capacity of civil society organizations and, III) facilitate and encourage interaction between State and Non-State Actors in Pakistan and alleviate the negative impacts of poverty and create opportunities to build and empower resilient communities that participate actively in development in Muzaffargarh and Rajanpur Districts is specific objective of the project.

Mr. Yameen Coordinator Rescue 1122 shared that his department is recognized one of the Pakistan’s best institutions. He said that National Disaster day is observed to build awareness and prepare mitigation plan to avoid potential threats in the future. Rescue 1122 is an institution which helps the people in any kind of disaster and capacitate the community to cope any emergency situation. He shared the capability and capacity of his department towards evacuation of the community during disasters. He emphasis on the training of the community on evacuation, response and rehabilitation during disaster and offered his services for training in field level activities. He added there is a more need for wider dissemination of these message to take the precautionary and safety measures among the public to enable them for effective and timely response in disastrous situation. Miss Shazia Nawaz DO Social Welfare Rajanpur added that this day is not only memorized us the people effected of disaster in 2005, it also motivated us for the preparedness of any expected disaster in the future. She urged the importance of civil society’s role during any disaster and emphasis on better coordination between the line departments and non-governmental actors.

Report of Seminar on Awareness Raising on National Disaster Management Day 4

Mr. Aqeel Gull shared that “National Disaster Day” remind us the loss of precious human lives in the past due to different disasters. He shared the lessons, learnt by civil deference and district government during the flood 2010. He briefed about specific an emergency cell numbers for the community where they can take information regarding any disaster in the region. He described the preparedness of line departments for the any disaster. He urged the current response during 2016 flood in Rajan Pur with the help of the trained community volunteers and other line departments.

Respected community members from UC Nowshera Sharqi and Sahan Wala also participated in this seminar and shared their views regarding project, area and developments trends in the targeted union councils.

Finally Chief Guest Mr.Yaqoub Sherwani (Assistant Director local Government) concluded the seminar by promising the preparedness of the local government, involvement of the local bodies and their linkage the line departments. He supported out thematic resolve Tyaar Pakistan (Ready Pakistan). He shared that we must evaluate the impact of climate change in our region for better preparedness and mitigations plans.

He appreciated the efforts of RDPI for organizing this event and struggle for the uplifting of the deprived communities.

Vote of Thanks

At the end Mr. Ibrahim presented the gifts to guests and thanks to all the participants.

Out Comes & Way Forward

Local government of the targeted union councils are engaged and bridged up to

sit with line departments for the future preparedness. Local government

representative can play very active role in response and they can plan their

infrastructural activities according to DRR guidelines.

Community of the relevant area awared and sensitized and they will disseminate

the information at grass root level in their origin of living.

Report of Seminar on Awareness Raising on National Disaster Management Day 5

RDPI will develop strong coordination with Rescue 1122, Civil Defense,

Community Development Department, Social Welfare, Local Government and

District Government Departments for strong working relationship for better

planning and development of the project area.

List of Government Officials participated in seminar

Sr. Name Designation Department1 Mr.Yameen District Coordinator Rescue 11222 Riaz Husain LTV Rescue 11223 Usman Rasool FR Rescue 11224 Farooq Ahmad DR Rescue 11225 M Yamin Rescue Safety Officer Rescue 11226 Ms.Shazia Nawaz District Officer Social Welfare 7 Mr. Yaqub Sherwani Assistant Director Local Government8 Mr. Shah Nawaz Khan Local Government Chairman Noshehra Sharqi9 Mr. Ashiq Fareed Local Government Chairman Sahanwala10 Mr.Aqeel Gull District Officer Civil Defense 11 Sanjeda Bukhari Lady Instructor Civil Defense 12 M Rizwan JC Civil Defense 13 Tauqir Abbas Senior Instructor Civil Defense 14 Malik Mehmood Baitulmal District Member 15 Afifa Bibi Teacher Education 16 Rabia Nazir AEO Education 17 Robina Rafique AEO Education 18 Ashfaq Ahmad District Officer Water Management 19 Munir Ahmad Superintendent DO-

WMP Water Management

20 Zeshan Nawaz CDO PHED