Afghanistan: National disaster management plan, 2003

The National Disaster Management Plan (NDMP) focuses on streamlining disaster management systems at the national level through the reorganization of the Department for Disaster Preparedness and the elaboration of major stakeholders' operating procedures. It operates within the framework established under the Law on disaster response, management and preparedness in the Islamic State of Afghanistan.

Its concepts apply to a major disaster, including a natural catastrophe, or any other occasion or instance for which the National Commission on Disaster Management determines that assistance of the national government is needed to supplement provincial and local level efforts and capabilities. It does not cover conflict related issues, such as mine action or civil strife.

The Plan covers the range of changing requirements in four stages of the disaster cycle: non-disaster stage, before disaster, during disaster and after disaster stages. It thus lays out principles, structures and procedures for mitigation, preparedness, impact assessment, rescue and relief, and recovery activities.

The NDMP primarily focuses at national level management systems, and briefly outlines the provincial-level organizational systems required to operationalise a national plan. It does not cover district and local plans, and recommends that work on these plans be taken up in the near future under the National Disaster Management Programme. Such work should be preceded by capacity building efforts at these levels so that the plans may effectively be implemented.