District Level Consultative Workshop on Disaster Contingency Planning of Dadu District .

Participatory Development Initiatives (PDI ) and Oxfam Novib jointly organized  District Consultative  level  Workshop on  Status of Disasters Contingency Planning of Dadu District 2012 which was held at local hotel of Dadu District on   24.07.2012 on Tuesday.Government officials, local NGOS and INGOs representatives and PDI staff participated in Disaster Contingency Planning 

Workshop.Participants of workshop  expressed their views regarding Disaster Contingency Planning of District Dadu 2012 and gave their suggestions and input to strengthen the capacity building of local NGOs and government line departments capability to combat with any possible future rain floor or riverine flood and flash flood  disasters devastation in district and mitigate losses of communities and their livelihoods .Participatory Development Initiatives (PDI) Research Advocacy Officer Saleem Abbasi gave his presentation and presented critical view of Dadu District Disaster Contingency Planning 2012 and inform participants of workshop regarding PDI and Oxfam Novib joint efforts to hold workshops involving all key stake holders of district to do effective Disaster Contingency Planning in riverine flood districts of Sindh in upper region of Sindh as well as in Southern Districts of Sindh to combat with future natural disaster devastation strengthening early warning system at gross root levels at Village and UC levels , providing prior early warning information  to communities , evacuate them at safer camps places .

Government officials, local NGOS and INGOs representatives and PDI staff participated in Disaster Contingency Planning Workshop.Participants of workshop  expressed their views regarding Disaster Contingency Planning of District Dadu 2012 and gave their suggestions and input to strengthen the capacity building of local NGOs and government line departments capability to combat with any possible future rain floor or riverine flood and flash flood  disasters devastation in district and mitigate losses of communities and their livelihoods .Participatory Development Initiatives (PDI) Research Advocacy Officer Saleem Abbasi gave his presentation and presented critical view of Dadu District Disaster Contingency Planning 2012 and inform participants of workshop regarding PDI and Oxfam Novib joint efforts to hold workshops involving all key stake holders of district to do effective Disaster Contingency Planning in riverine flood districts of Sindh in upper region of Sindh as well as in Southern Districts of Sindh to combat with future natural disaster devastation strengthening early warning system at gross root levels at Village and UC levels , providing prior early warning information  to communities , evacuate them at safer camps places .He said  that PDI is  strongly believe that without participation of communities and input their suggestions in policies and  district government  cannot make effective and sustainable policies to mitigate losses owing to natural calamities. He added that purpose of holding this type of workshop in district Dadu to involve all key stake holders including government officials, communities and civil society representatives to aware communities at village levels and government line departments to strengthen their capacities learning lessons from previous natural flood and rain disasters which took place in district in 2010 and 2011 rain flooding.

 He added that due to poor planning communities were heavily suffered and lost their lives livestock and livelihoods due to the lack of durable Disaster Contingency Planning in District Dadu.He added that District Dadu is located between 24-57 and 27-27 north latitudes and 67-09 to 68-25 east longitudes. Its boundaries are connected with Larkana district, on the east by Naushero Feroze, Nawabshah and Hyderabad districts, on the south by Thatta district, on south-west by Malir district and Lasbela and Khuzdar districts of Balochistan Province. The area of the district is 19070 square kilometer. It is estimated that very high flood (Up to 0.8 million cusecs) has passed through the catchment area during the  13^th  and 14th august 2010, thus due to that menace about 99800 population of the district evacuated  their houses and villages and left their  properties, crops and livestock which was their major sources of income.He added that District government has been devised Disaster Contingency Plan of 2012 without taking confidence and consultation with civil society representatives and communities and they are many gaps in District Disaster Contingency Plan of District. 

He cited example from District disaster Contingency Plan and said that its  mentioned in District Disaster Contingency Plan that administration has formed eight committees but committees role and responsibilities are  not mentioned or identified. He added that there is no preparation of inventories and rosters and operation plan of district, scenarios and targeted population not defined. He added that even in 2012 Disaster District Contingency Plan low lying and high surface places are not mentioned and there is lack of coordination among flood related departments.   He added that to ensure the effective planning in context of the anticipated monsoon 2012 and should   identify the Gaps, challenges and constraints in effective planning.

He added that Dadu District due to heavy rains lashed out in Balochistan in the end of June and July received flash floods adding that Hill torrents originating from Balochistan entered Sindh through Kirthar Hills and inundated vast areas in Dadu District. He added that due to poor planning and lack of early warning system the unprecedented gushing floods from Mula and Bolan rivers badly affected the flood protection network and the MNV /RBOD     

The government should strengthen early warning mechanisms at district-level to mitigate losses of possible rains and flood devastation in Sindh.

Communities and local NGOS representatives said that district government not held single coordination meeting with NGOs and other civil society representatives to get input or suggestions for drafting 2012 Disaster Contingency Plan for district. 

 Tahmina Samejo a representative of local organization said that its organization has recruited volunteers and made committees at village level to inform communities prior regarding any possible riverine or rain flood devastation.

Riaz Soomro from CDO said that it even roads and bunds which were damaged during 2010 water flood not plugged and mostly district administration has done sub-standard work in the district .

Ghulam Nabi Rustmani from Sujag Samsar said that due to poor planning and lack of transparency in construction work done by district administration of damaged bunds and lack of coordination between government flood related departments further make vulnerable to communities of District Dadu. Ab Qayoom Shahni government Irrigation official said that due to political intervention and tribal rivalries government officials are unsafe and not doing their duties and monitor weak and vulnerable points. He added that Tree Plantation campaign should be launched in district to mitigate the losses of riverine flood in District.

End.