FOCUS News Update Winter 2007

 

 

FOCUS News Update Winter 2007     Responding to Cyclone Sidr, Bangladesh Responding to Cyclone Sidr, Bangladesh Following the devastating effects of Cyclone Sidr, which struck the south western coastal areas of Bangladesh on 15 November 2007, FOCUS and His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan National Council for Bangladesh, in collaboration with the Van Leer Foundation provided 50,000 blankets to communities. This was in response to a request to help local communities with upcoming winter needs. FOCUS is currently undertaking a detailed assessment in the area most affected by loss of lives - the district of Barguna - to establish longer term disaster risk reduction and mitigation plans.   Initiating community risk management programme Badakhshan, Afghanistan Initiating community risk management programme Badakhshan, Afghanistan FOCUS is facilitating mountain communities in Badakhshan, Afghanistan to strengthen their resilience against natural disasters which frequently hit the region. Through a grant awarded by the European Community Humanitarian Office for Disaster Preparedness, FOCUS is implementing a community-based disaster risk management programme in four border districts of Badakhshan. The programme was inaugurated in Ishkashim, on 15 November at a ceremony attended by local and provincial government representatives. FOCUS will work closely with local communities to raise awareness of disaster risk, undertake hazard and vulnerability assessments in the region and facilitate the training of volunteer response teams. In addition, FOCUS will be seeking to engage local government institutions in building partnerships and risk management capacity. Sharing disaster risk management expertise in Pakistan The Second Asian Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction was held in New Delhi on 7 and 8 November 2006. At a pre-conference event, representing the FOCUS family, FOCUS Pakistan presented “Challenges in Community Risk reduction and Strengthening Awareness and Resilience” to highlight FOCUS work within the south Asian region. The conference brought together participants from across the region and was attended by Dr Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister of India and Mrs Sonia Gandhi.   FOCUS Pakistan’s Search and Rescue Team and Community Emergency Response Team FOCUS Pakistan’s Search and Rescue Team and Community Emergency Response Team received an award from Pakistan’s Northern Areas Force Commander and the Chief Secretary for a simulation exercise and display held during a celebratory event marking Northern Areas Liberation Day on 22nd November 2007. Participant exhibitors at the Chinar Bagh in Gilgit included local government departments, civil society groups as well as agencies of the Aga Khan Development Network. FOCUS trains local scientists in Khorog, Badakhshan A professional development training course on hazard vulnerability and risk assessments in mountainous areas was held between 23 and 31 October in Khorog, Badakhshan. Professor Usupaev Sheyshanli Eshmanbetovic from the Central Asian Institute of Applied Geosciences led the training of twenty-five local participants from the Committee of Emergency Situations and Civil Defence, non-governmental organisations, the Institutes of Geology and Seismology as well as the University of Central Asia. For the third consecutive year, FOCUS implemented this training programme as part of its commitment with the European Community Humanitarian Office Disaster Preparedness project to provide local specialists with an opportunity to enhance disaster skills and knowledge to those involved in teaching and conducting hazard and vulnerability assessments.     FOCUS engaged young people in disaster reduction and response methods through a computer game entitled “Stop Disasters!”     Teaching UK children about disasters through a UN computer game In London, United Kingdom, FOCUS engaged young people in disaster reduction and response methods through a computer game entitled “Stop Disasters!” formulated by the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR). The interactive session was held at a children’s event in London, as part of the Golden Jubilee celebrations of His Highness the Aga Khan. Tsunami survivors demonstrate disaster preparedness To mark India’s National Disaster Awareness Day on 29 October 2007, FOCUS organised a range of participatory activities for community members from fifteen villages in the Krishna District of Andhra Pradesh. Designed by FOCUS-trained community emergency response teams, activities encouraged community embers to participate in a series of event ranging from drawing competitions in schools to village awareness rallies. The events also formed an integral part of the FOCUS-AKDN post-tsunami Relief to Development project.   Evacuation simulation in Vancouver Training volunteers in crisis management On 17th November, an evacuation simulation exercise was held in Vancouver, British Columbia, as part of FOCUS’ national disaster preparedness training programme. Over 300 local community members participated in a mock evacuation and were received at an emergency reception centre set up and run by FOCUS trained local volunteer disaster management and response teams. The simulation was attended by delegates from local civic emergency management organisations who lauded the community’s efforts in engaging in a high level of preparedness and assistance to local civic authorities in the event of a major disaster.     FOCUS exhibits at Aga Khan Foundation Partnership Walks across USA FOCUS exhibits at Aga Khan Foundation Partnership Walks across USA At this years’ Annual Partnership Walks held across the USA, participants had the opportunity to familiarise themselves with FOCUS’ global disaster response and preparedness activities around the world. A pictorial presentation and posters and volunteers provide participants with key information on FOCUS’ community based disaster risk reduction, crisis response and institutional building programmes around the world. For further information, please contact your nearest FOCUS office, whose details can be found under Contact.

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