Emergency Response and DRR
Emergency Response & Disaster and Risk Reduction
The numbers of disasters, natural or otherwise, have taken a toll in the past decade. They have resulted in irreparable human, economic, environmental and social loss. Earthquake of 2005 cost 73,338 lives and resulted in making 5 million people homeless. The losses resulted by the floods of 2010-2011 amounted to $9.5 billion and $2.5 billion respectively.
The Global climate risk index as of 2012 has placed Pakistan as 3rd worst affected country by all these calamities. Pakistan continues to be at the receiving end of such calamities due to the climatic changes and persistent development failures.
Nationally reported losses as of 1990-2014 indicate that earthquake cost a 39 percent of mortality rate followed by floods which stand at 24%. Combined economic losses amount to 54% only by rains in the past score whereas 31% were due to floods. Earthquake of 2005 has incapacitated the people of northern areas to a greater magnitude than resulted by any other naturally occurring catastrophe.
National Disaster Management Ordinance
National Disaster Management Ordinance marks the establishment and setting up of a system that works for all the phases in event of a disaster.
⦁ Prevention
⦁ Mitigation
⦁ Rehabilitation
⦁ Reconstruction
Karwan Development Foundation is actively playing its part in disaster risk reduction and emergency response, be it floods, earth quakes or any other natural calamity.
Emergency Response in Dir
Karwan in collaboration with Danish Muslim Aid took an active part in the relief activities in Tehsil Maidan, Lower Dir. Area was badly affected by a earthquake in 2015. The casualties were 276 and a total of 1300 people were injured there.
Heavily Affected Area: Tehsil Maidan was largely hit by the most destruction and it was the needier region. Affectees required blankets, floor mats, medicines and tents. Provincial and federal government had come to the rescue in initial stages by providing tents and food items so KDF took care of the blankets and floor mats.
A total of 500 blankets and 236 mats were distributed under the surveillance of KDF and DMAID.
For distribution purposes, local administration was contacted to make sure that the needs were met accordingly. Institutions such as the police and army extended their help in conducting relief activities.to overcome the language barrier; communication process was dealt with the help of a few locals. In order to care of the widows females were also a part of the relief management teams by KDF.
Emergency Response in Tharparker
In October 2017, there was a fire accident in village Noorani , Taluqa Dahli, Tharparker. In this unfortunate incident, many houses caught fire. Which resultants into livestock and house hold items. Karwan distributed food items and necessary household items to the affected families including water tanks. Danish Muslim Aid extended the financial support for it.
All burnt houses were made by the residents, but they were needing few days to construct there houses again. Karwan provide them food sufficient for one month, so they can stay at home instead of going out for labor to earn money for food.
CBDRR Project Mia Essa - Nowshera
Mia Essa is a village in the suburbs of Nowshera, on the bank of river Kabul that was severely affected by the 2010 floods. Karwan worked on emergency response in the rehabilitation of the area right after the disaster stuck.
First time ever through the combined efforts of Karwan, Engineer Without borders-Denmark and Danish Muslim Aid-Denmark the locals of Mia Essa were targeted directly to cope up with the disastrous challenges. This institutionalized effort with the help of civil society is a landmark achievement towards grass root level awareness and preparedness drill. Karwan has introduced rapid rural appraisal system which assesses the needs of this area in terms of the damage done by Kabul River every year since Mia Essa is a fragile land.
KDF aims at improving the mindset of people to change the way they respond and react to unforeseen situations. People come, talk, identify and mutually resolve the aftermath of disastrous situations. Self-governing and helping each other approach has been significantly encouraged and promoted by KDF.
When Engineers Without Borders decided to work in the area for disaster preparedness, they collaborated with Karwan and spent four years in Mia Essa implementing CBDRR project. Major activities that were performed during 2015 are mentioned below.
⦁ DRR forum in Nowshera was inactive for several years. Karwan activated the forum, conducted elections and assigned responsibilities to the newly elected members. Forum’s presence was also ensured on the social media along with printing and distributing its first formal publication.
⦁ Radio campaign in monsoon season was organized for awareness of the local population
⦁ Karwan planned, prepared and launched DRR Directory for the district Nowshera
⦁ Karwan partnered with PDMA to organize International DRR Day Celebration at University of Peshawar
⦁ Less structured CBOs in Mia Essa were recognized and supported by training them on Office Management and First Aid besides providing first aid kids to each CBO
⦁ Karwan was among the sponsors of International Day for Disaster Reduction, organized by National DRR Forum Pakistan in 2015
⦁ Disaster Management Conference 2015: Protecting Our Children from Terrorism was jointly organized and sponsored by Karwan and NHSD
⦁ Specially designed clipboards with DRR awareness messaged printed were distributed to 1250 children of 6 schools in Mia Essa
In an attempt to reduce Pakistan’s vulnerability to natural and manmade disasters, Karwan has come forward to introduce policies in disaster risk reduction. Karwan has floated booklets and brochures in these areas in Urdu so they are easily understood by majority.
DRR Initiatives in Tharparkar
Tharparkar region is the grief-stricken area which is often caught up in the unexpected incidents and fire eruptions. Therefore, the need of preparedness of such disasters is imperative. This was realized by KDF when the number of incidents involving fire rose from May 2017 to October 2017. 12 villages were targeted with an aim to improve preparedness of people under disastrous situations. The data has been given below,
Under this project 12 Village Disaster Risk Management Committee (VDMCs) were formed that were to conduct trainings and activities for the disaster risk reduction purposes. Through a coordinated set of efforts and activities the trainings were a huge success. The trainings conducted were on
⦁ Fire fighting
⦁ Heat stroke management
The participants were briefed about the causes of these events, how they were to be countered, preventive measures that could be taken immediately, responsive actions and first aid. In order to demonstrate through a clear picture, mock drills were arranged by the KDF.
To conclude the training process, first aid kits and firefighting kits were distributed. A list of those items is given below,
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