Disaster Preparedness and Management (DPM)
Balochistan is highly prone to natural disasters. Floods of 2007, 2010 and 2011 were the worst with respect to their magnitude, nature, damages and losses that they had caused to the lives and livelihoods of the people. There are numerous case studies that reveal that disaster preparedness interventions considerably reduce the chances of occurrence of disasters and even if one does occur, the losses and damages to an affected area are the least.
BRDS, therefore, plans to put in place necessary community management infrastructure, equipment, and institutional mechanisms to:
- Mitigate the impact of a disaster;
- Build capacity of the community to be better prepared to cope with various disasters in a pre-planned manner; and
- In case a disaster does set in, get actively involved in relief, rehabilitation, and reconstruction efforts, in coordination with the government and other stakeholders.
Formation of Rapid Response Unit at Community Levels
In order to sensitize different stakeholders in the target community, sessions are carried out. The main purpose of these sessions is to raise awareness and change community perception about disaster preparedness. During these sessions, basics of Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), such as what is disaster, what is vulnerability, which factors make people vulnerable, and basic level relief and rescue, are imparted to the community members, women groups, children, religious groups, and local representatives. After the completion of the sessions, the rapid response unit will be formed at community level to specifically deal with any disaster in the areas.
Disaster Preparedness Training for COs
BRDS conducts disaster preparedness trainings for COs’ members along with other community stakeholders so as to capacitate them to respond to any kind of emergency. The main focus of the training is on:
- Knowledge and capacity building; and
- Developing community skills to cope with disasters
The Following Activities are planned to Take Place
- Civil works related to protective infrastructure aimed at minimizing the loss of life and property in the case of floods and cyclones;
- Putting in place infrastructure and promoting forestation to minimize soil erosion;
- Civil works aimed at maintaining water balance in proposed areas;
- Putting in place early warning systems for rains, floods, and droughts;
- Multipurpose, community managed buildings, to act as safe, pre-designed shelters in the case of a flood, or earthquake;
- Maintenance of a network of disaster response centers; and
- Provision of relief goods and services.
Achievement in DPM
| S. No | Interventions | Unit | Total |
| 1 | Capacity building training of community members in CBDRM | Person | 1488 |
| 2 | Sensitization of community members to DRR | Person | 893 |
| 3 | Preparation of community-based disaster response plans (DRPs) | No. | 64 |
| 4 | Establishment of early-warning systems at village levels | No. | 55 |
| 5 | Erection of flood protection structure to protect focused areas | No. | 113 |
| 6 | Building of mini dams to store flood waters to avert drought situation | No. | 29 |
