Early Warning System to be enhanced to control disaster situations 

Early Warning System to be enhanced to control disaster situations 

ISLAMABAD: (APP) National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Chairman Major General Asghar Nawaz has stressed urgent need of addressing the shortfalls, further improvement of Community Early Warning Systems (EWS) in vulnerable areas of flash floods.

"The Chairman NDMA while appreciating the efforts, emphasized urgent need of addressing the shortfalls, further improvement of Community Early Warning Systems (EWS) in vulnerable areas of flash floods &GLOF, timely stockpiling of required relief items especially at district level and completion of ongoing flood protection schemes beside a need for continuous and vigilant monitoring of Flood

Situation."

Chairing a meeting of NDMA officials and representatives of PDMA Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and FDMA, he directed to ensure storage of wheat, early procurement of additional rescue equipment to ensure prepositioning of earth moving machinery at critical bridges and road sections, sufficient stocks especially in the vulnerable areas of Malakand and Hazara divisions, and enhancement of measures against rains in TDP camps.

DG PDMA Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Amir Affaq and Director Operations FDMA briefed the NDMA Chairman on preparations for monsoon-2016, existing gaps and preventive measures undertaken based on past experiences and state of preparedness of all relevant departments.

The NDMA Chairman had a detailed meeting with Chief Secretary Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Amjad Ali Khan wherein need for efficient surveillance of ground situation before and during emergencies was stressed.

Discussions also included operational matters as related to the disaster management at provisional level.

The NDMA Chairman assured all possible support to the provincial authorities.

It may be mentioned that National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has already initiated consultations and coordination with all the stakeholders, provincial/regional and state Disaster Management Authorities (DMAs) and all related departments to cope with any emergency.

The comprehensive process closely supervised by the NDMA Chairman culminated into the National Monsoon Preparedness Conference held on June 9 at Islamabad resulted formulation of a National Monsoon Contingency Response Directive 2016.

In order to consolidate efforts, series of consultative meetings commenced.