Participatory development
Initiatives ( PDI ) and Oxfam Novib on 18-07-2012 held joint consultative workshop on Status
District Disaster Contingency Plan 2012 , Conference was opened on
Thursday 18-07-2012 at local hotel of Sanghar in which Sanghar District
government officials from line
departments , district UNDP focal person
, representatives of INGOs and NGOs and
affected communities from different taulkas
of Sanghar district participated in District Disaster Contingency
Planning workshop .
In
District Disaster Contingency workshop, PDI staffs members , Saleem Abbasi PDI research officer and Mir Jalbani PDI
Program manager in their introductory remarks of workshops in detail briefed
participants of workshop regarding PDI
and Oxfam Novib joint initiatives to aware communities regarding onset monsoon
hazards and at UC and village levels make effective planning
to mitigate losses of any upcoming natural disaster in district involving all
key stake holders including government line department officials , INGOS and local NGOS and review
and discuss gaps and needs and further strengthen government as well as community capacity
building to cope effectively natural
disasters devastations in Sindh province
.
Saleem Abbasi said that
after 2011 rain flood havoc in southern region districts of Sindh which badly
affected livelihood of communities in Sanghar District and other southern
regions of Sindh districts, PDI has not only held rallies but held meetings
with government officials, lawmakers of Sindh assembly and INGO
representatives, and media advocacy campaign to resolve unaddressed issues of
rain affected communities.
He added that in
Sanghar district held advocacy meetings with line department officials and
Deputy Commissioner, UNDP official and held consultation meetings with
communities and after incorporate their suggestions and input after released
dozens research base reports on issues of rain affected communities and after
released said reports in both print and electronic media and also shared with
all key stake holders including ministers , lawmakers of Sindh assembly and
civil society representatives . He added that that the objective of holding
workshop on District Disaster Contingency Plan 2012 to review gaps and issues in District Disaster
Contingency Plan 2012 and input voice and suggestions of communities in
district plan .
He added that PDI has
strongly believe that without involving public voice no plan or action would
prove fruitful for communities and after only people who were ignored suffered
and lost their precious lives and livelihoods . Speaking
on Disaster District Contingency Plan 2012 status , Contingency Plan District Sanghar 2012, he has shared with participants
of Workshop that District Sanghar comprises of six Taulkas i.e. Sanghar,
Sinjhoro, Shahdadpur, Tando Adam, Khipro and Jam Nawaz Ali. The main income
source of its inhabitants is agriculture and this district is considered to be
the biggest cotton producer of Pakistan.
He mentioned that Nara Canal , Jamaro Canal , Mitharo
Canal , Rohari Canal are major canals in Sanghar District and major drains in
district are Sanghar Main Drain , Nara Valley Main Darin, Singhoro Branch
Drain . He added that past rain flood
and riverine flood devastation left many questions and it’s a fact when
communities’ suggestions and input not involve in planning proved fatal and
cause of more devastation in terms of loss of precious lives and livelihoods of
communities at larger scale. Talking on District Disaster Contingency Plan 2012
, he said that district administration in haste made disaster contingency plan
of district and it did not mentions scenarios in the Disaster Contingency Plan
2012 . He added that District administration due to its 2011 rain flood
devastation in District demanded 4by 4 vehicles to 4X4 vehicles, motor boats,
Wireless sets, Life saving jackets and other accessories are required. He added
that District Administration can inform us regarding full fill of their
required accessories to evacuate and save communities in case of any rain or
water flood devastation . He added that
District administration did not mention availability of food stocks in case of
emergency. No vulnerable points have been mentioned in the District Contingency
Plan 2012. He said that Budget estimates
for the Disaster preparedness measures have neither been specified nor
allocated against the contingency plan 2012. No low lying areas have identified
in the Plan and no names of the high surface areas have mentioned in said 2012
Disaster Contingency Plan. He added that District Management Committee was
established as per plan but million dollar question is about its effectiveness.
He added that past rain
flood devastation livestock of communities have badly damaged and in agrarian
society of Sanghar district communities have major source of their earning and
nutrition but district administration did not mention any plan for animal
fodder and livestock camps.
Malik Marooar from UNDP
said that mapping of hazards and response should be started from village levels
involving elders and notable of village and local NGOs should setup early
warning mechanisms at gross root levels.He added that that without hazarded and
vulnerability mapping at UR or at Village level district government, district
government could not mitigate the losses of rain or riverine flood disaster and
to save livestock and livelihood of communities .They added that district Interdepartmental departmental
relationships was lacking in disaster contingency plan of district government
and it should be strengthened more so the prompt action during the emergency
response can be taken.
Pakistan Fisher Folk Forum,
Mir Hassan said that it was observed that district administration without
consultation of community and their representatives made disaster contingency
plan 2012 for district and its obligatory on district administration to pay
heed to voice of communities and after holding meetings with local NGOs and
other civil society representatives incorporate suggestions in disaster
contingency plan after send it to PDMA and implement it.
Majority of communities
and other stake holders said that district administration is not incorporating
suggestions and input of communities and civil society representatives in its
Disaster Contingency Plan and there is a trust deficit of communities on
district administration and other district related departments due to heavy
involvement of politics.
They added People
should clearly guided and inform during emergency and its prime responsibility
of district administration to share correct information and data with
concern stake holders and camp
settlements areas of low lying areas and high surface areas should be
notified.
They decided that a
forum will be established and PDI led it in which all district NGOs and INGOs
would be included and after Hazards and Vulnerability mapping will be started
from village to UC level.
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