Q & A: UNDP expert discusses disaster risk reduction in Pakistan

Zubair Murshed, UNDP disaster risk reduction advisor to Pakistan, 2006-2009, answers questions, further to what has been called by the United Nations, as the biggest disaster to ever face the country.

According to Murshed, areas to strengthen in disaster preparedness and prevention include: forecasting and warning systems, evacuation systems, community preparedness, institutional systems, linking with global institutions; the most strategic challenges include; political commitment and funds. He asserted that three aspects had visibly improved: coordination, disaster prevention awareness (of officials) and finally contingency planning. Looking at what has been already put in place, Murshed says that this includes; legislation and planning, institutional arrangements; search and rescue teams, DRR integration into planning, human resource development and the National Institute for Disaster Management, community-based disaster risk management, advocacy with the parliamentarians and an awareness raising campaign.