Jordan: Workshop on determining indicators for priority natural hazards concludes

Source(s): Jordan News Agency

The National Consultation Workshop for determining the indicators for the priority natural hazards in the kingdom concluded today at the Dead Sea.

The priority hazards had been agreed upon as outcomes of the first national workshop which was held on 22 and 23 November, 2016 in Amman for potential members of the National Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Platform. This national consultation workshop was organized at Crowne Plaza Hotel on 14 and 15 February 2017 by the National Centre for Security and Crisis Management and the General Directorate of the Jordan Civil Defence in cooperation with the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), GoAL WASH programme, and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

The workshop identified the risk indicators for five priority hazards based on the assessment of each risk exposure, vulnerability and coping capacity at the individual and institutional level, using OCHA's INfoRM index.

Participants at the workshop consisted of relevant members of the National Risk Assessment Team, including the Ministries of Agriculture, Environment, and Water and Irrigation, Earthquake Observatory, Jordan Water Authority, Royal Scientific Society, Royal Geographic Centre, Department of Meteorology, Al Al-Bayt University, Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority, Petra Tourism Development Authority, and Department of Statistics.

In addition, the Coordinator of the National Palestinian Technical Team for Disaster Risk Management, Dr. Mohammad Odeh, participated at the workshop to exchange expertise and knowledge in the area of disaster risk management governance for the benefit of the national risk assessment teams in both countries.

In his opening remarks, Assistant Civil Defence Director Brigadier General-Staff Marwan Bader Smei'at welcomed the participants from the national and international institutions and stressed the importance of this national effort that seeks to lay the foundation for implementing a comprehensive risk assessment at the national level.

Smei'at also stressed the need for all specialized national institutions to participate and concert their efforts in this process.

On her part, Head of OCHA Jordan office Sarah Muscroft commended the national ownership and leadership demonstrated by all relevant institutions and through the effective participatory approach in data exchange on disaster risk reduction (DRR) to improve preparedness and response plans for any potential future risks. Muscroft also commended the collective and coordinated efforts of the UN agencies that support national DRR efforts.

Governance and DRR Specialist at UNDP Diana Jreisat, presented the activities and projects implemented by the programme over the past years in the area of DRR in partnership with all national institutions. On her part, Mrs. Tamara Nanitashvili, Food Security and Nutrition Officer at FAO, stressed that DRR represents a corporate priority under FAO's Strategic Framework 2010-2019 and presented the key findings of a nation-wide DRR assessment for livelihoods in the kingdom.

Head of Operations at the National Centre for Security and Crisis Management Hussam S'oub, concluded the opening session and stressed the importance of integrating national DRR efforts under the umbrella of the National DRR Platform and emphasizing the need for participants to actively engage in the workshop consultations.

This workshop falls within the on-going national efforts to implement a comprehensive risk assessment in Jordan under the technical leadership of the General Directorate of the Jordan Civil Defence and the overarching stewardship of the National Centre for Security and Crisis Management. The comprehensive risk assessment project is supported by OCHA and UNDP in cooperation with the international community.

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