World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (WCDDR) & Disaster Management
As natural events unfold into an
era of unpredictable circumstances and calamities, the responsibility on
governments mounts up in terms of getting equipped with more proactive
strategies and planning for their citizens.
A natural disaster is described
as any catastrophic event occurring as a result of the natural processes of the
Earth, the severity of which is measured in terms of the economic loss, lives
lost and the ability of the nation to rebuild. However, events that occur in
unpopulated area do not count as natural disasters.
Pakistan alone has its share of
prolonging disaster struck episodes since the past ten years, most of which
displaced thousands of people, thus making them vulnerable to diseases and aggravated
their living conditions further. The earthquake in 2005 resulted in 73,000
deaths and left many stranded, following this massive disaster, the cyclones
and storms in Sindh and Balochistan affected about 3 million people thereby
questioning the government’s credibility of taking effective measures for it’s
own disaster victims.
Meanwhile, historic trends need to be focused upon for
any future planning; for instance, the earthquake that shook the Makran Coast,
killing about 4000 people in the year 1945 presents the need for disaster
resistant construction and immaculate architectural planning. However, studies
have revealed that Karachi is prone to seismic disturbances and if it were to
be hit by an earthquake equal to the magnitude of the one that hit Japan in
2011, the entire city would be flattened.
Planning for any unforeseen
calamity is a matter of taking proactive measures at the government level while
an astute reactionary approach should ensure proper medical facilities, ad-hoc
housing system, and sufficient food supplies for the victims. The issues
occurring as a result of the Internally Displaced People in the Khyber
Pakhtoonkhuwa province is another matter of grave concern which is no less than
a natural disaster in it’s own magnitude. Therefore, the government officials
have to widen their understanding of risk reduction at varying levels.
Keeping in view the natural
hazards the world is being repeatedly struck with, the World Conference on
Disaster Risk Reduction (WCDRR) is going to be held in Japan from 14-18 March
2015 that will shed light on the new issues being discussed and agreed during the Preparatory Committee Meetings and ultimately
at the Sendai World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction. This initiative
undertaken in consultation with the SRSG for Disaster Reduction is being
planned in collaboration with the United Nations Office for Disaster Reduction
(UNISDR).
A new Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Framework will
therefore be presented that has been finalized after a span of a two year
process involving various stakeholders and incorporating a number of thematic,
regional and online consultations. Government officials are expected to ensure
their participation and involvement in the conference and apply the concepts to Pakistan for a
better managed country. Details of the resources can be accessed from: http://www.wcdrr.org/resources
Official
Website of WCDRR: www.wcdrr.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WCDRRPakistan
Twitter: https://twitter.com/WCDRRPak
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