Natural Disaster Could Be Dealt Through Better Planning: NDMA

Natural disaster could be dealt through better planning: NDMA

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 2nd Augst,2016) : A natural disaster like floods could be dealt more effectively through better planning and integrated efforts said Ahmed Kamal Member National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) here Tuesday. Talking to ptv news he said for the first time elaborate contingency plans have been developed by NDMA at district, provincial and national level in consultation with all the stakeholders. Responding to a question, Ahmad Kamal further said that devastations of floods could not be avoided without overcoming technological gaps adding that upgrading of the weather forecasting technology would enable the Met Office to minimize human material losses by the weather changes. Media and NDMA need to go shoulder to shoulder to protect the people from catastrophe, he urged Besides spreading knowledge through media, the NDMA also regularly publishes updates on its website for public awareness, he maintained.

Ahmad Kamal said that the main role is to educate the masses to remain calm in case of any disaster.

"We lose more lives due to panic during disasters", he added. Kamal said that we are working on many projects to provide training to different organizations regarding disaster management in the country. He expressed the confidence that due to their effective policies they are expecting even lesser loss this year as they have also adopted the policy of Disaster Risk Reduction. He said now NDMA has the capability to immediately start relief activities in case of natural calamities. NDMA has necessary funds and resources to handle any untoward situation arising from rains and floods in the country. NDMA is regularly and constantly coordinating with all concerned departments to ensure timely precautionary evacuations and rescue besides provision of relief to the rain and flood affected people. "Pakistan need to adopt an approach of climatically appropriate development planning," he said adding, "a nationwide disaster mapping, risk reduction planning and effective response mechanism is immediately required to avoid more catastrophes."