In case of emergency: Disaster management unit launched in Charsadda

District hit in 2010 floods; communities there still recovering

PESHAWAR: After five years of floods that eventually wreaked havoc in 2010 in Pakistan, the first-ever district disaster management unit (DDMU) started operating in Charsadda.

It was launched by Participatory Rural Development Society (PRDS), a local nonprofit organisation which works on disasters and floods across the province, a press release issued on Saturday stated. Charsadda was hit the worst by floods in 2010 as three major rivers flow through the district. Communities there are still recovering from the damage.

The PRDS concluded its nine-month-long project, called Humanitarian Capacity-building for Strengthening Disaster Management System in Charsadda. The project was funded by Oxfam Novib, a humanitarian organisation.

The unit has been provided with basic equipment like boats, life-saving jackets and other effective information-monitoring system. The press release quoted PRDS Program Officer Arjumand Shah as saying, “The project has been designed to raise the voice and strengthen the capacity of local communities and vulnerable populations, organisations working for women’s rights, local NGOs and district officials.”

He said PRDS trained district officials and volunteers from local communities and briefed them about activities regarding emergency and relief work for DDMU.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 10^th, 2016.