Islamic Republic of Afghanistan National Disaster Management - PDF document

Islamic Republic of Afghanistan National Disaster Management Authority (ANDMA) By Mohammad Ajmal Karimi 1 Types Types of Dis of Disas asters i ters in n Af Afghan ghanis istan tan q Drought q Flood q Avalanche q Earthquake q Landslide q Extrem weather q Sand storms q Fire q Man made disasters 2

3 � Natural Causes • Highly seismic region • Low rainfall • Mountainous geography • Reduced forest cover • Large pasture land (50%) 4 o Other causes Other causes o • Low literacy level (28.7%) • Low literacy level (28.7%) • High Poverty High Poverty • • Low Awareness • Low Awareness • Insufficient health centres • Insufficient health centres Poor transportation system Poor transportation system • Inadequate communication facility Inadequate communication facility • • Insufficient investment in DM • Insufficient investment in DM

DRM system Afghanistan is signatory to HFA, and carrying out activities in all 5 priorities. 22 key Ministries, UN, NGO s are members of the National Commission for DM National Platform for DRR established National DM Plan , DM law is pending in parliament for approval National preparedness and response simulations conducted ( supported by WFP) Emergency response simulations conducted for national and provincial level (supported by UNICEF) Access to Satalite Data � IMMAP organization and ISAF supports ANDMA HQ and provincial Offices with providing vulnerability maps, especially when it comes to satellite data. Also our partner WFP supports through ITHACA (Information Technology for Humanitarian Assistance, Cooperation and Action http://www.ithacaweb.org/news/links/) since 2007. Therefore, ANDMA & WFP has a very close relationship with ITHACA and IMMAP

� � GIS usage – access Afghanistan still don’t have accessibility to remote sensing technology , so GIS is not used for the purpose of Disaster Risk Reduction at country level and here is no specific center for that, but it is very much needed for our country because of occurring different types of hazard here in Afghanistan in all four seasons of the year Ministry of Communication recently announce that Afghanistan very soon will be owner of the Satellite by the technical and financial cooperation of its international partners and companies, so that will be best opportunity for ANDMA to Establish GIS for the Disaster Risk Reduction , which will work at country level and it should has critical role in the prevention or at least mitigation of the risks of hazards .

Community Vulnerability and Risk Index Map Community Risk Mapping using GIS

� � � � � � Key Risk Management activities Human Resources - FOCUS Non Structural Mitigation Assessment Teams with Participatory Community the following core skill v Based Training in Disaster sets Management Geologists Social Mobilizers Community Based Hazard v Assessment and Mapping Engineers Structural Mitigation Activities Seismologists Community Based scenario v Landslide Retaining Walls v Planning Avalanche Diversionary v Channels Stockpiles & emergency v Channel Reconstruction v Caches Rural Road Rehabilitation v Other physical protection v Community Emergency v measures Response Teams Imm mmediate & e & Shor Short t ter erm N m Needs eds As everyone know that GIS has critical role in the Disaster Risk reduction, so specific training for the technical staff of ANDMA and related ministries is urgently needed. Needs for sufficient resources for prompt response in events of disasters q especially earthquake and floods Update maps of vulnerable parts of the country in terms of natural q disaster Air Transports q Closer cooperation of all stakeholders including UN agencies, NGOs, q line departments etc. in DM Training of rapid response and assessment teams q Development of central data base system to be linked with provinces q Strengthening the data base and communication system q Financing the public awareness programs through media q 12

Lon ong g term term Needs Needs q Fire fighting tools and equipment q Seismic detection instruments q Modern metrological equipment and establishment of zonal centers q Need for local and International investment in DM field q Integration of DRR in developmental projects q Implementation of building codes q Construction of offices for central and provincial DM authorities. Modern equipment for Search and Rescue q Strengthening early warning system equipped with modern q technology in all risky sites 13 Con Constra strain ints & C ts & Cha hall llenges enges q Data sensitivity and data unavailability related to DRM for the entire country and then due to security, it is bit hard to collect the data. Also ANDMA do oversee the lack of human resources capacity in DRM q Afghanistan due to many reasons (war, internal conflict, poverty, illiteracy etc…) facing numbers of problems and challenges, regarding Geo-DRM 14 14

� � � � Constraints & Constra ints & Chall Challenges enges q Limited financial resources and budget allocation q High vulnerability to disasters q Lack of modern fire fighting equipment q Lack of modern hydro metrological instruments and tools q Lack of modern seismic detection instruments q Poor early warning system q Limited number of trained and motivated human resources in DM q Insufficient equipment for search and rescue q Poor enforcement of Building Code q Weak coordination among stakeholders Re Recom comme mendations ndations Afghanistan need technical and financial cooperation of other countries and advanced technology, tools and equipments Datasets related to DRM are expensive and if there would be a regional network on information sharing between SAARC and ECO member countries that can be much more effective for the entire region. up-to-date satellite imagery for the national and regional level or spatial data sets related to DRM analysis. Setting up a working group for DRM is a necessity from the region and that will enable to share the needed technical knowledge with to WG and also request expertise resources from the regional countries. After this workshop/meeting/training, we do appreciate, to keep inform SAARC and ECO member states about steps that is taken to set- up/strengthen DRM at the regional level or sharing the meeting points and decisions.

And whoso saves a life, it is as if he had saved the entirety of mankind.” The Holy Qur’an 17