Media workshop: Calamities cannot be avoided but causalities can be minimised, say experts

Govt and media urged to play proactive role in disastrous situations.


Peer Muhammad October 16, 2011

ISLAMABAD:


Speakers urged the media to play an effective and constructive role in spreading awareness among communities to cope with disastrous situations. They underlined that it is not possible to avoid natural calamities but through awareness and preparedness, causalities can be minimised.


The participants were addressing a workshop on “Hazard and Disaster Reporting”, organised by the Focus Humanitarian Assistance - a sister organisation of Aga Khan Development Network (AND).

Focus Humanitarian Assistance’s representative, Faalak Nawaz, said that the government should allocate a budget to meet the country’s needs as it is facing one challenge after another due to climatic changes. He said that the media should play an important role for awareness and preparedness, boosting the victims’ morale.

It suggested that the government should establish and strengthen the disaster management units at tehsil and local levels to cope with the emergency situation in case of any natural or man-made disaster. They also underlined the importance of the involvement of volunteers and communities to provide emergency services.

We have to be prepared and evolve a mechanism to minimise damages in the case of a Tsunami, as our southern borders touch the Arabian Sea, said Nawaz. He said that training students, including female students, as fire fighters and ways to respond to emergencies can help overcome disaster at the initial stage.

Dr Rakshanda, a freelance Disaster Risk Management Consultant said that the media should be careful about gender sensitivity while reporting disasters, especially those pertaining to women. She was of the view that sometimes the media gives away unnecessary personal information during disaster reporting.

Communication Officer of the Focus Humanitarian Assistance, Noor Muhammad, informed the media about the steps taken by the organisation to cope with any emergency situation.  He claimed the organisation has been working with several government departments for the last few decades to provide emergency services in disastrous situations.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 16th, 2011.

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