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FOCUS News Update (Summer 2008)

AFGHANISTAN
FOCUS invests in community training for men and women to increase their awareness, knowledge and skills to prepare for and respond to, natural disasters.Disaster Mitigation Training for Mountain Communities
Afghanistan is one of the most disaster prone countries in the world.  Earthquakes, which often trigger devastating landslides, are frequent in the northern parts of the country.  Seasonal floods and mudslides are also common, particularly in the spring when snow starts to melt. Extreme winter conditions and avalanches are also a recurrent feature, especially in mountainous areas.

As part of its ongoing endeavour to respond to the needs of communities living in areas prone to such hazards, FOCUS invests in community training for men and women to increase their awareness, knowledge and skills to prepare for and respond to, natural disasters.

At the end of June 2008, 13 male and female volunteers from Afghanistan and Tajikistan attended a seven-day disaster response and assessment training course. The course, facilitated by three Master Trainers from FOCUS in Pakistan, provided an opportunity for participants to learn critical life saving skills, light search and rescue techniques as well as first aid and equipment handling skills.

Training local community volunteers in disaster response skills falls under FOCUS’ broader community-based disaster risk management programme. In Afghanistan, this element is supported by the European Commission’s Disaster Preparedness Office (DIPECHO).

During extreme weather conditions, many people attempt to save the lives of their relatives and neighbours, however in the process, some unfortunately lose their own lives. In response to this need, FOCUS implements basic water-rescue skills training at community level.INDIA
Training local residents and volunteers in water rescue before the monsoon
Raising awareness of local natural disasters and specialised community training is also one of FOCUS’ main programmes in India.

“For generations we have lived in very close proximity to our land and in harmony with the elements of nature. Only recently, extreme weather conditions and the unpredictability of nature such as very heavy rainfall in areas which were previously barren and no rainfall in places which used to get regular showers, has begun to confuse us…” says Mr. Kassambhai Padania of Amrapur, Gujarat.

Kassambhai tells of a neighbour who drowned suddenly through a water surge during a recent torrential downpour.   He adds, “We have to cope with these risks as we go about our daily lives, just as city folks have to face the risk of an accident while commuting to work each day.”

During extreme weather conditions, many people attempt to save the lives of their relatives and neighbours, however in the process, some unfortunately lose their own lives. In response to this need, especially prevalent before the monsoon season, FOCUS implements basic water-rescue skills training at community level.

In June 2008, seventy-two volunteers from the Southern Saurashtra region of Gujarat participated in water rescue training along several river bank locations in Malia Hatina. The practical sessions gave volunteers an opportunity to understand high-risk areas, review locations where water rescue operations could and could not be undertaken, as well as an understanding of critical lessons learned from past accidents.

After the training, the volunteers attended a water safety session delivered by FOCUS. An emergency stock of life jackets and throw lines were distributed to the community to help assist future emergency planning.

In the year ahead, FOCUS is working towards building a national water rescue and response team in India.

PAKISTAN
Participating in regional cooperation in Xinjiang, China.Participating in regional cooperation in Xinjiang, China
In June 2008, FOCUS attended an international conference in Xinjiang, the north western China. The conference brought together representatives from Northern Areas of Pakistan, the Ministry of Environment, agencies of the United Nations and government officials from China to discuss regional sustainable development and environmental protection.

As a step towards regional cooperation in this field, the conference sought to look at common areas of socio-economic partnership within local communities and identify potential areas of natural preservation for communities living along the China-Pakistan border.

Following the conference, a joint steering committee, of which FOCUS is a member, was formed to ensure continued discussions on this aspect of regional cooperation. Representatives from communities living on both sides of the border expressed their hope that the collaboration would help restore the historical and cultural ties which bind Pakistani and Chinese communities together.

FOCUS completes rehabilitation of earthquake-devastated kindergarten in Qumsangir. TAJIKISTAN
FOCUS completes rehabilitation of earthquake-devastated kindergarten in Qumsangir
Following the devastating earthquakes in Qumsangir, southern Tajikistan in July 2006, in which many homes and community buildings were seriously damaged, FOCUS provided humanitarian support through the provision of immediate relief. Immediate recovery efforts by the Government primarily focused on the reconstruction of homes.  Following an assessment in summer of 2007 with the Government of Tajikistan and the District Government of Qumsangir, FOCUS spearheaded a long-term rehabilitation project of the Firuza Kindergarten, which had been badly damaged by the earthquake. In May 2008, FOCUS completed the rehabilitation project and handed the Firuza Kindergarten over to the Government of Qumsangir at a ceremony in the presence of local authority officials, including the Deputy Chairman of Construction Affairs of Qumsangir, the Director of the Department of Education and the Senior Architect of Qumsangir.

The project, marked a significant investment towards enhancing social assets of the local community. The kindergarten is expected to provide access to pre-school education to more than 120 students, teachers and staff, who will once again continue their endeavours in education.

FOCUS attends workshop hosted by Tajik government’s Geology department.FOCUS attends workshop hosted by Tajik government’s Geology department
In June 2008, FOCUS participated in a two-day international workshop dedicated to the study of natural hazard events in Tajikistan. The workshop was hosted by the Head Tajik Geology Department of the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan. Participants included leading geologists and natural hazard specialists from both Tajikistan and the wider Commonwealth of Independent States.

The workshop included a field visit to the area devastated by the Bypazine landslide as well as an exhibition where, alongside other agencies, FOCUS presented its disaster risk reduction programmes. At the closing ceremony, FOCUS was acknowledged for its dedicated service and contribution to the field of geology and natural hazard assessment in Tajikistan.

International Conference on Water Related Disaster Reduction hosted by Tajik government
An International Conference on Water Related Disaster Reduction was hosted by the government of Tajikistan in Dushanbe in June 2008. The conference was organised in collaboration with several United Nations bodies, including the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction, and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation. Bringing together participants who, together, represented 35 countries and 28 international organizations, the conference aimed to promote cooperation among countries to prevent water related disasters and minimize their impact on economic and social development. At the conference, FOCUS delivered a presentation on flood risk management and the use of water related disaster reduction techniques as a tool for disaster risk reduction. FOCUS exhibited its programmatic activities as part of an exhibition of water related disaster risk reduction activities in Central Asia. 

Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation visits FOCUS programmes in Badakhshan
In July 2008, a delegation from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) visited Badakhshan, Tajikistan.  The delegation, hosted by FOCUS aimed to gain further insights into the risks of natural hazards faced by many communities in Badakhshan. As part of the ongoing partnership between SDC and FOCUS, SDC was able to gain a deeper understanding of FOCUS’ initiatives in strengthening disaster risk reduction activities. The delegation made field visits to natural hazard sites as well as to sites of FOCUS’ programmes.

For further information, please contact your nearest FOCUS office,
whose details can be found under Contact.