Two day training programme for media in disaster risk reduction

Information Secretary Hedayetullah Al Mamoon addressed the program as the chief guest while Disaster Management and Relief Division Secretary Dr M Aslam Alam spoke as special guest. Prof MB Rao of SAARC Disaster Management Center (SDMC) and course director of NIMC Shah Mohammad Hasim Reza also spoke with NIMC Director General Md Makbul Ahmed in the chair.at a training programme today stressed the need for developing a holistic, proactive, multi- disaster and technology-driven strategy for disaster management and risk reduction to build a safer and disaster resilient South Asia.

Alongside disseminating of early warning message, media should educate people on both human induced and natural disasters to minimize losses of life and property, speakers said at the two-day training programme on ‘Role of media in disaster risk reduction in South Asia’ at the National Institute of Mass Communication (NIMC) here.

Media has a responsibility to make people aware of different manmade and natural disasters to cut disaster risk, Hedayetullah Al Mamoon said adding both print and electronic media should be used as tools for reducing disaster risk. He further said SAARC countries should work together on disaster management through exchanging knowledge, experience and skill to face challenges of disaster risk.

South Asia is one of the most vulnerable zones to natural disaster, and all South Asian countries have to work jointly to address the issue of disaster risk reduction” said Dr Aslam. He also underlined developing disaster management to cut disaster risk.

In the decade of 1950, there were less than 50 disasters worldwide and the number of disasters had risen to nearly 700 in 1990s, speakers said adding weather related disasters account for almost 70 percent of total number of disasters. Rapid climate change due to global warming is further worsening the situation, they added.

Courtesy BSS news