Japan govt to help set up emergency centre for natural disasters

HYDERABAD: The Japanese Government will provide assistance for establishment of an emergency centre so that the district administration could be able to smoothly tackle any eventualities arising as a result of natural disaster.

This was informed by a two-member delegation of Japan headed by Takashi Amano during a meeting with the officers of district and divisional administration here at the office of the Commissioner Hyderabad Division on Friday.

The delegation members were briefed about the losses causes by unprecedented rainfalls in the months of August and September 2012 in different districts of Hyderabad Division.

Takashi Amano informed the officers of the district and divisional administration that the prime task of the delegation was to collect data of rain- affected people, provide them relief and rehabilitation and establish district level emergency centres in order to protect the people from losses in case of any eventuality in future.

Besides capacity building of the employees of concerned departments, he said that technical know how will also be provided to them so that in future they could be able to meet any kind of eventuality in an effective manner.

He asked the officers concerned to provide complete data of the union council and the people affected as a result of heavy rainfalls so that the Government of Japan could pool its share in their rehabilitation.

He informed that during rain emergency, Japan has provided assistance to National Disaster Management Authority in its efforts of providing relief and shifting of rain affected people to safer place. Besides, the experts also provided technical assistance to staff members of Meteorological Department for prompt communication and guidance to people about natural disasters in sensitive parts of Pakistan, he added.

The Additional Deputy Commissioner Hyderabad Aijaz-ul-Hassan briefed the delegation about the problems faced by the district administration during rescue and relief operation for the rain affected people and apprised the delegation to recommend to their government for provision of vehicles, excavators, cranes and standby generators so that the administration could be able to meet the challenges in an effective manner in case of emergency.

Among others, the Additional Commissioner Hyderabad Rafihuddin, Assistant Commissioner Hyderabad Lal Dino Mangi and Managing Director Water and Sanitation Agency Salimuddin were also present on the occasion.