Disaster management centres: President asks provinces to help Red Crescent

BISP directed to provide data to the society for finalising contingency plans in case of floods.

ISLAMABAD:

President Asif Ali Zardari on Friday called upon the provinces to allocate funds to Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS) and to look into its land requirements for setting up disaster management centres, said a press release.

He also directed the Benazir Income Support Programme to provide data to the PRCS free of charge to enable it to finalise contingency plans for areas likely to be affected by rains and floods, while chairing a general meeting of the society to approve the society’s budget for 2012, said the statement.

PRCS is in the process of implementing its Strategy 2015, which aims to extend its geographical reach and enhance its capacities in disaster management, health, volunteerism, image-building and being financial self-reliance.

PRCS Chairman Maj. Gen. (retd) Muhammad Nawaz Khan informed members that PRCS has already formulated its contingency plans through a consultative process with donors in preparation for any eventuality of floods this year.

Based on a medium-impact scenario, the PRCS has planned to provide assistance to approximately 304,000 people.

They will give food, shelter, health care, water and sanitation facilities, psycho-social support to these families and restore them with the support of non-governmental organisations, said the press statement.

The members alo approved the names of six people on the PRCS board of governors including Fiza Gilani, Sughra Imam and Asma Arbab Alamgir.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 14^th, 2012.