Participatory Development Initiatives (PDI) and
Oxfam Novib jointly organized a District Level Consultative Workshop on Status
of Contingency Planning in District Qambar –Shahdadkot on July 25, 2012 which
was held at office of Deputy Commissioner.
Officials
from district administration, local NGOs, human right activists, notables of
district, INGOS and PDI staff members participated in workshop.PDI Research
officer Saleem Abbas welcomed participants of workshop and gave presentation on district disaster contingency
Plan 2012 devised by district administration to combat with anticipated monsoon
,riverine flood and flash floods forecast .
He added that the objective of PDI
and Oxfam Novib to hold thus type of workshop in prone disaster district to
aware communities and with joint efforts make strategies to mitigate losses of
natural hazards in the district .He added that keeping in view of sudden
climatic changes and recent flood devastation in Sindh province and anticipated
natural disasters there is strong need of a viable disaster contingency
planning at each disaster prone district of Sindh to mitigate lessees of
natural disasters learning lessons from previous natural disasters and aware
communities at gross root levels and involving and incorporating their voice
and input in policies and planning’s which devised and implemented by district
administration .
He added that PDI is strongly believe in participatory approach and
incorporating communities suggestions that district administration can ensure
effective planning to cope with any natural disasters because communities and
civil society representatives can indentify gaps and suggest betters
suggestions and inputs .
Saleem Abbasi said that despite in 2010 super flood
district was badly damaged and majority of communities evacuated city and there
was no proper mechanism of early warning system develop by district
administration to convey correct information regarding flood. Saleem Abbasi said that in Disaster
Contingency Plan district government has been indentified vulnerable points of
embankments but communities have shown great concern over poor infrastructure
repairing work done by government of
plugging embankments , repaired damaged roads and no compensation plan
for poorest and vulnerable small farmers .
He told
participants of workshop that it’s regrettable that despite Sindh province has
faced major flood devastation and even government own institution and NDMA
Chairman cautioned regarding anticipated
monsoon rains in Sindh but due to
poor governance and lack of planning and not consulting with civil society
representatives and communities district administration has devised Disaster
Contingency Plan in which major components of disaster contingency plannings
are not defined by district administration..
He added that even in Disaster Contingency Plan of
district Scenario building not clearly identified by district administration
and there is no response strategy mentioned in Disaster Contingency Plan of
District.
He added that in year 1994,
1995 and 2007 flood water from hill torrents borders districts of Sindh which
are boundaries with Balochistan always received rain flood and communities were
badly suffered but there is no plan devised by district administration how to
cope with this situation and to save communities livelihoods.
He added that even district administration of Qambar
Shahdadkot has been indentified in its
disaster contingency plan that in case of flash flood from Balochistan 250,000
people would be affected of district but there is no plan mentioned by district
administration regarding camps settlements at safer areas .He added that
District indentified that in case of flood water of river Indus 5, 00,000
people will be affected
Fida Soomro
from LHDP said that floods are one of major hazards in Sindh province of
Pakistan causing heavy damages and losses for communities Weather services monitor levels of major
rivers and are able to warn of impending floods. However, such services are not
available for hill torrents which were major cause of flash floods in Taulkas
of District Qambar Shahdadkot such as Kubo Saeed Khan, Mir Khan, Qambar and
Warah.He added that District administration without consultation of civil
society representatives and Communities devised Disaster Contingency Plan 2012
for district to mitigate devastation of flash floods and anticipated monsoon
rains. Fida Soomro told participants of
workshop that despite Sindh province faced flood devastation in 2010 and rain
flood havoc in 2011 but yet Sindh government had not decided that weather
contingency plan should be prepared according to 1958 Calamity Act or National
Disaster Management Ordinance 2006 or 2010 Act. He added that canals and bunds,
bridges and roads which were badly affected during 2010 super flood government
could not do proper repaired work. He added that Sindh government has been
spent Rs 34.5 billion on RBDO but administration had done sub-standard work.
He added that District
administration does not have capacity to combat with flash flood devastation
and there is no plan devised by district administration for camp movement and
did not make any inventory or rosters in case of flash floods.
Ghaffar Pandhari from NDS , local NGO activist said that its dilemma
that district administration not held single consultative meeting with NGOs or
INGOs representatives to take suggestions or input for 2012 District Disaster
Contingency Planning . He added that in 2010 super flood district was one of
worst affected district due to water flooding which entered from Jacobabad and
Kashmore districts after the breach of the levee at Thori Bund and advanced
north went into Balochistan province.
The District comprises of seven
Talukas (Kamber,Shahdad Kot,
Warah, Mirokhan, Sijawal Junejo, Nasirabad & Qubo Saeed Khan) and 40
UnionCouncils (UCs). Of 1.2 million
population, approximately 500,000 were affected in 550 villages in six Talukas (16
UCs). Between 35 to 40 per cent of the areas in Qambar Shahdadkot.
He added 554394 acres of land affected, 71,000 standing crops affected,
about 15909 houses damaged, 44050 cattle lost and 720 km roads damaged (about
169 different roads). To accommodate the
flood-affected population of Qambar Shahdad Kot, 145 were established (both
tented villages and schools), hosting a population of about 60,000 families. Some
30,000 of these families were settled along road sides.He added that government
does not have proper plan to combat with pre –during and post natural disasters
and district administration keeping in view of past flood devastation
experience should indentified relief camps in those areas which are located at
safer places . He added that banks of
Saifullah Magsi canal in which breaches were occurred during 2010 flood should
be strengthened properly before onset monsoon and canals which are passing from
main city Qaboo up to Bariga union council of Taulka Kot Magasi and Jhal Magasi
should be strengthened on priority basis and flood water outlets must be
constructed according to Quantum of water.
Zakir Hussain from Red Crescent Coordinator of district said that
district administration not held single meeting of local non government
organizations regarding disaster contingency plan prepared by district
administration for year 2012 to combat with riverine or rain floods.
He added that after rehabilitation work which was ended in December 2011
not a single meeting called by administration to face any challenges or
discussed gaps or does further planning to mitigate the losses in case of
possible riverine or rain flood in the district.
Babar Memon from UNDP said that
in district clusters are not functionalize and UNDP representatives are facing
difficulties to hold cluster meetings due to poor cooperation from district
administration and district administration not held single meeting to discuss
and to get input and suggestions from non government organizations and civil
society representatives regarding preparedness of Disaster Contingency Plan for
year 2012 and nor its copy shared with civil society representatives. Ali Sher from Pirbhat organization said that
due to political intervention and poor governance district administration and
its related departments are not cooperating with civil society representatives
and not paying heed to their input and suggestions for further planning to
mitigate losses of anticipated riverine or rain flood havoc.
Community leaders and majority of NGOs activists and civil society
representatives have complained that due to political intervention in district
administration blindly following instructions of political leaders and not
giving due attention and spend their resources for sustainable planning to cope
with future natural disasters challenges
.They added that there is lack of transparency
on construction of roads and canals repairing and other health and
education infrastructure which were damaged during 2010 super flood .
Karim Bakash Mangi focal person
and DDMA Coordinator in district said that a meeting of civil society
representatives including local NGOS would be called soon in which district
administration can get input and suggestions and further take steps to hold
clusters meetings.
He added that in meeting he would share district disaster contingency
plan with all local NGO representatives and he will also share deliberations of
this workshop with concern officials of the district.
End.
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