Kalash volunteers trained to handle monsoon calamities
People retrieve bamboos from a damaged house following rains and floods during the monsoon season in Dera Allah Yar, district Jafferabad, Balochistan. PHOTO: REUTERS
A five-day training workshop was held in the Rambor valley of Chitral to enable local volunteers to cope with natural calamities effectively and help the affected people in a timely and effective manner.
A group of 30 volunteers of Kalash community including women were trained during the workshop.
Talking on the occasion, local social activists Zarmast Gul and chairman village council Sultan Khan said that the training is part of the monsoon contingency plan to help local communities overcome heavy downpour and subsequent flash floods.
They said the training will enable these volunteers to help flood victims at the village level on their own till aid is received from outside.
These volunteers have been trained to pass correct information to the relevant organizations to enable fast response, first aid and rescue and search operation.
Later all the volunteers were awarded certificates.
It may be mentioned here that the Met office had forecast an abnormal monsoon season across Pakistan which could result in widespread damage to agricultural produce, human settlements and road infrastructure.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 29th, 2023.