MINGORA: A 5-day community-based disaster risk planning workshop concluded on Monday in Panjigram Swat, to discuss restoration of flood-affected infrastructure and building resilience.
The workshop, organized by the Community Resilience Activity - North (CRA-North) was attended by 45 men and 15 women from Panjigram, Gulabad, and Dugiya villages in Bahrain. The workshop was aimed at equipping participants with the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively plan for natural disasters and build a resilient community.
The local community members, including elders and youth from three different villages (Gulabad, Panjigram, and Dugiya), participated in the workshops.
The closing ceremony was attended by Muhammad Ayub (Sub Divisional Account Officer) from the Irrigation Department, Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as chief guest.
The participants were equipped with various knowledge and skills, including how to craft village DRR Plans, understand disaster-related terminologies, conduct Stakeholders analysis, comprehend early warning systems, establish committees and their roles and responsibilities, and participate in demonstrations on various subjects such as first aid, search and rescue, and firefighting.
The five-day training session also included a Transect Walk, during which participants explored the community’s response to validate potential risks and vulnerabilities, moreover district 1122 technical team also delivered a detailed session on emergency aid with both male and female participants.
The chief guest expressed his support for the activity and emphasized the importance of planning and preparedness in disaster management.He said the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government is also working on effective planning and encouraged other organizations to do the same.
The community members appreciated the knowledge gained about risk planning and expressed their readiness to work together towards minimizing the impact of natural hazards.Women participants highlighted the vulnerability of women and children during disasters and stressed the need to prioritize their safety.
Overall, the community resilience activities conducted by CRA-N include training workshops and rehabilitation activities, which aim to better prepare and effectively respond to natural disasters and overcome their effects.