Future planning: Conference on mega disasters from May 17

Conference targets enabling relief and humanitarian organisations to avert or minimise loss of lives and property.

The Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS) is organising a two-day national conference from May 17 on lessons learnt from mega disasters in Pakistan.

The conference, titled “Mega Disasters in Pakistan Lessons Learnt- Way Forward”, will provide participants a chance to deliberate and form a joint strategy for better planning within available resources. The conference also targets enabling relief and humanitarian organisations to avert or minimise the loss of lives and property as the monsoon season is fast approaching, said a press release issued by the PRCS.

It will focus on earthquakes, floods, cyclones and other man-made disasters. This was stated by PRCS Chairperson Senator Nilofar Bakhtiar in Islamabad on Saturday. She was briefing a group of journalists.

She said that the conference aims to provide a platform to identify available resources and improve strategies to prepare for the next disaster. It will also provide networking opportunities, as experts from different areas of disaster preparedness management will attend the conference. The conference aims at focusing on community disaster preparedness that can make a difference by lessening the loss of lives and making the people safer through proper training.

The chairperson said that international and national experts will present their papers, share their experiences and recommendations for a joint mechanism to cope with these disasters.

Nilofar said that due to climate change, the disasters’ risks are increasing and it’s high time that an effective policy at national level is prepared.

She was of the view that the expected outcome of the conference is the development of a blue print for national action following all kinds of disasters.

The conference will attract a wide cross section of participants from public and private sector entities, non-governmental organisations, emergency management services, researchers and development partners with speakers from a wide range of disciplines, as well as delegates.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 15^th, 2011.