NDMA Annual Report 2011 (26MB)

www.ndma.gov.pkResponding Achievements, to Disasters: Challenges A Year & Looking a Retrospect Aheadwith special abilities during various phases ofhumanitarian response remained a challenge.However, the NDMA and PDMAs succeeded increating an institutional environment that has theflexibility and leadership to create greater impact inthe near future. The NDMA initiated policyformulation on gender equality and childprotection. This would feed into formulatingnational policy on social protection.Furthermore, the NDMA urged the humanitariancommunity and other relevant stakeholders toincorporate gender and social protection concernsinto relief and recovery interventions. The NDMAincorporated women, widows, elderly persons,persons with special abilities and other socialdemographics into DRR policy.4.1.7. Disaster Risk Insurance:Financial constraints in rehabilitation andreconstruction efforts by the government makespeople rely on charities and donations by thedonors and philanthropists thus creating adespondency syndrome within the affectedcommunities.To strengthen the coping mechanism ofcommunities in post-disaster situations, theNDMA is working to introduce a concept ofdisaster risk insurance for disaster-pronecommunities, which aims at helping people tomanage the post-disaster damages. The programwould be managed by an independent board ofprivate philanthropist and representatives of thecorporate sector.4.1.8. Strengthened DRM CoordinationBeing a national platform for disastermanagement, it is important to strengthencoordination between disaster managementinstitutions at all tiers. In this context, the NDMAinitiated process of ownership building amongDRM institutions through improved coordination,consultation and linkages both vertically andhorizontally. For the first time, civilian responseChapter 4was mobilized through institutionalizedframework at provincial as well as district levels, asenvisioned in the National Disaster ManagementAct, 2010. At the local-level the response wasprimarily led by the DDMAs supported byPDMAs under the overall guidance of the NDMA.The DDMAs were free to co-opt other disastermanagement support organizations including thedeployment of troops from the Armed Forces.The exercise was useful in terms of strengtheningcoordination amongst all stakeholders.4.1.9. Technological InnovationsAppropriate and timely usage of technology cannot only help avert disasters but also help to coverthe disastrous effects of a calamity. The NDMA inrecent disasters used technology to augment itsresponse. The significance of these initiativesincluded introduction of tele-health services andsolar solution on energy efficiency.The NDMA launched Pakistan's first tele-healthmobile units in Badin, Tando Mohammad Khanand Mirpur Khas in Sindh to provide healthcareservices. The facility is operational in Badin,providing consultation to the communities fromrenowned specialist at Dow Medical University,Karachi.The NDMA in collaboration with UNDPintroduced an innovated technology by initiating ajoint pilot project with Wetlands ProgrammePakistan (WPP) for the installation of solar waterpumps and streetlights for District Muzaffargarh.In this regard, the NDMA organized a series ofconsultative meetings with district government,line departments, implementing partners and localcommunities. This is one of the uniqueinterventions of NDMA to address the wide spreadelectricity shortage and energy shortfall in districtMuzaffargarh. The NDMA plans to scale up thisinitiative after its successful implementation andassessment of the initial results.Annual Report 2011 12 49