Conference on seismic risk mitigation in Palestine

Under the patronage of his Excellency Prime Minister Professor Rami Hamdallah, The Urban Planning and Disaster Risk Reduction Centre at An-Najah National University held a conference entitled "Seismic Risks Mitigation in Palestine," on Monday and Tuesday 17 & 18 November 2014. The conference was organized upon the conclusion of the Disaster Risk Reduction Project in Palestine (SASPARM-FP7).

At the opening session of the conference, Prof. Maher Natsheh, Acting President of An-Najah welcomed the participants and highlighted the importance of SASPARM project in building the capacity of the Palestinian institutions in this field. He considered these efforts as part of An-Najah National University efforts to fulfil its vision and mission in serving the Palestinian society.

Nablus governor Akram Al-Rojoub, representing His Excellence the Prime Minister, addressed the conference appreciating An-Najah’s role in sustainable development and its contributions to Palestinian society despite all of the challenges, especially in facing the danger of earthquakes and the region’s vulnerability to them

Mr Sergio Piccolo, EU Representative, thanked An-Najah for holding this conference and praised the University’s role in disaster risk reduction. He also reaffirmed the cooperation and support provided by the EU to the Palestinian people in West Bank, Gaza Strip and Jerusalem through projects like SASPARM and the importance of scientific research and cooperation between Palestinian universities and international institutions.

Mr. Fabio Germagnoli, from EUCENTRE in turn thanked An-Najah for holding this conference, applauding its efforts in the field of earthquakes and risk mitigation. He gave a presentation about construction models’ vulnerability and resilience to earthquakes.
Dr Jalal Al-Dabbeek, Director of the Urban Planning and Disaster Risk Mitigation Centre, thanked the participants and reviewed the major accomplishments of the Disaster Risk Reduction Project (SASPARM-FP7).

The two days conference had 4 sessions that included presentations and dialogue panels in addition to the opening session. The sessions included scientific papers on theoretical and experimental aspects of risk mitigation; presentations on the technical training offered to staff in the framework of SASPARM; and presentations on institutional experiences by municipalities and governorates that partnered in the project. These papers and presentations included:
- General overview of training activities & Territorial Management systems, by Dr. Barbara Borzi, EUCENTRE, Pavia, Italy.
- Training on near-surface site characterization: lessons learned and future goals, by Dr. Carlo G. Lai, EUCENTRE, and Pavia University, Italy.
- Future cooperation – SASPARM2 Proposal, by Dr. Paola Ceresa, EUCENTRE, and IUSS, Pavia, Italy.
- General view about SASPARM dissemination activities and exploitations, by Dr. Jalal Al Dabbeek, NNU.
- Seismographs and Seismometers and their uses by Dr. Ayman Mohsen & Eng. Anas Atatri, NNU.
- Training visits in Italy by Eng. Hatem Al-Wahsh & Mr. Wala’ Ajaj, NNU.
- Shaking Table by Eng. Hatem Al-Wahsh & Dr. Monther Dweikat, NNU.
- Integration of SASPARM with Hyogo Framework for Action, the Arab Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction and the International Campaign “How to Make your City more Resilient”, by by Dr. Jalal Al Dabbeek, NNU.
- Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering, , by Dr. Carlo G. Lai, EUCENTRE, and Pavia University, Italy.
- Microzonation for the Reference Seismic Input in Tuscany Region (Central Italy, , by Dr. Carlo G. Lai, EUCENTRE, and Pavia University, Italy.
- Territorial Management Systems, by Dr. Barbara Borzi, EUCENTRE, Pavia, Italy.
- National Report on the Hyogo Framework for Action, by Ammar Salameh, Civil Defence.
- Experiences of cooperating Palestinian cities in the frame work of the project of The Global Campaign on Disaster Reduction: How to make cities more resilient, by the following municipalities and institutions: municipality of Nablus, Ramallah, Al bireh, Bethlehem, Tulkarm, and Jericho, Palestinian Red Crescent Society, Civil Defence Department.

In the discussions that followed the sessions and in the conclusion session, as well as forms submitted by individual participants, a long list of recommendations was produced in the following areas:
National Policies and Institutional structure; Legislation and Enforcement; Training and Public Awareness; Hazard Mapping (Seismic); Preparedness and emergency response (Capacity); and Regional cooperation and International initiatives.