World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (WCDDR) & Disaster Management

Thursday, March 05, 2015 Heba Moeen 0 Comments







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/




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