Natural disasters: ‘Develop adaptability in vulnerable communities’
Pak-EPA chief calls for enhanced institutional capacity to mitigate impacts of climate change
ISLAMABAD:
Experts have called for developing adaptability in communities living in climate-sensitive areas besides enhancing the institutional capacity of disaster-management and emergency assistance bodies.
Large swathes of Pakistan are highly vulnerable and prone to climate change-related natural disasters including floods, tropical cyclones and tsunamis, flash floods and landslides.
“The heightened vulnerability to disasters is due to the growing population, urbanisation and development within high risk zones, environmental degradation, and above all, climate change,” Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (Pak-EPA) Director-General (D-G) Dr Muhammad Khurshid Khan told The Express Tribune.
Economists believe that socially and economically-weak segment of society are the most vulnerable to such disasters and calamities.
They say that within the vulnerable groups, women, children and the elderly are exposed to higher risks and required special attention during calamities.
“There is a strong indication that in South Asia, particularly in Pakistan, climate change is going to intensify disasters as Pakistan is already experiencing impacts that are too visible to ignore,” Climate Change Division Director Muhammad Irfan said.
He said that most natural disasters such as floods, landslides and cyclones cannot be prevented, but their impact could be minimised by carrying out climate-resilient development work in risk prone areas.
“It is vital that critical infrastructure such as dams, barrages, irrigation network, roads, bridges, railway lines, power stations and river embankments are constantly monitored for safety standards and strengthened where needed, besides revisiting building bylaws and structural safety features to identify gaps and for suitable modifications,” said Ziaul Islam, a Pak-EPA director.
“Public-private partnerships need to be encouraged and strengthened to effectively manage disaster response,” he said, adding that “philanthropists, the corporate sector, and civil society organisations have been supporting disaster relief and rehabilitation.
Pakistan Meteorological Department D-G Hazrat Mir stressed the need to increase awareness of climate change related disasters and the capacity to respond them. “Improved public awareness is vital for effective coordination among sectors responsible for disaster risk management.”
He said that there was a great need to conduct short-term training programmes for the public, NGOs and volunteer organisations regarding the handling of emergency situations.
“Special awareness campaigns need to be run for different segments of society, particularly for those living in vulnerable areas, through electronic and print media, besides conducting participatory workshops and setting up an integrated information system for disaster risk reduction.”
Forests Inspector-General Mehmood Nasir emphasised the need for developing flood and drought adaptability in communities living in high-risk areas, besides enhancing institutional capacities of agencies dealing with disaster management activities.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 4th, 2014.
Experts have called for developing adaptability in communities living in climate-sensitive areas besides enhancing the institutional capacity of disaster-management and emergency assistance bodies.
Large swathes of Pakistan are highly vulnerable and prone to climate change-related natural disasters including floods, tropical cyclones and tsunamis, flash floods and landslides.
“The heightened vulnerability to disasters is due to the growing population, urbanisation and development within high risk zones, environmental degradation, and above all, climate change,” Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (Pak-EPA) Director-General (D-G) Dr Muhammad Khurshid Khan told The Express Tribune.
Economists believe that socially and economically-weak segment of society are the most vulnerable to such disasters and calamities.
They say that within the vulnerable groups, women, children and the elderly are exposed to higher risks and required special attention during calamities.
“There is a strong indication that in South Asia, particularly in Pakistan, climate change is going to intensify disasters as Pakistan is already experiencing impacts that are too visible to ignore,” Climate Change Division Director Muhammad Irfan said.
He said that most natural disasters such as floods, landslides and cyclones cannot be prevented, but their impact could be minimised by carrying out climate-resilient development work in risk prone areas.
“It is vital that critical infrastructure such as dams, barrages, irrigation network, roads, bridges, railway lines, power stations and river embankments are constantly monitored for safety standards and strengthened where needed, besides revisiting building bylaws and structural safety features to identify gaps and for suitable modifications,” said Ziaul Islam, a Pak-EPA director.
“Public-private partnerships need to be encouraged and strengthened to effectively manage disaster response,” he said, adding that “philanthropists, the corporate sector, and civil society organisations have been supporting disaster relief and rehabilitation.
Pakistan Meteorological Department D-G Hazrat Mir stressed the need to increase awareness of climate change related disasters and the capacity to respond them. “Improved public awareness is vital for effective coordination among sectors responsible for disaster risk management.”
He said that there was a great need to conduct short-term training programmes for the public, NGOs and volunteer organisations regarding the handling of emergency situations.
“Special awareness campaigns need to be run for different segments of society, particularly for those living in vulnerable areas, through electronic and print media, besides conducting participatory workshops and setting up an integrated information system for disaster risk reduction.”
Forests Inspector-General Mehmood Nasir emphasised the need for developing flood and drought adaptability in communities living in high-risk areas, besides enhancing institutional capacities of agencies dealing with disaster management activities.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 4th, 2014.