Islamabad: 18th March, 2010: Disaster Risk Reduction Programme of Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority (ERRA) and DDMA, Mansehra arranged a ceremony at Circuit House, District Mansehra to hand over stockpile items for any future emergency situation. Speaking on behalf of Deputy Chairman ERRA Lt Gen Sajjad Akram, project director ERRA Disaster Risk Management Programme Air Cdr (Retd) Naunehal Shah appreciated the support and cooperation extended by district administration, Mansehra and the Provincial Government for implementation of the Project, and said that empowering communities in disaster preparedness is ERRA initiative as we believe that communities being the first respondents to disasters need to be well aware and trained for any future disaster. Commending the participation of the communities at Union Council level, he said that the willing participation of female volunteers is praiseworthy. ERRA’s DRM Programme which is one of the cross cutting themes of ERRA is working in identification and mapping of hazards in the Earthquake Affected Areas, integrating disaster risk reduction aspects in development planning process at District level and developing response capacity of communities in villages. It is noteworthy that till date more than 9, 500 volunteers have received training under the Programme.

At the simple yet impressive ceremony, ERRA handed over emergency stockpile items to 59 Union Councils of District Mansehra which included Mega phones, stretches, hand held torches, batteries, helmets, crowbars, axes, shovels, wrenches, kassi, hammers, bolt cutters, pliers and first aid boxes.

DCO Mansehra Mr Yusuf Raheem appreciated ERRA DRM Programme for initiating capacity building and skill development of the community and DDMA. He further stated that now it is the responsibility of the community to maintain and use these items in case of any future disaster situation. The ceremony was attended by Country Director GTZ Christian Muller, Project Director ERRA DRM Programme Air Cdr (Retd) Naunehal Shah, DCO Mansehra Yusuf Rahim, DOR Lateef ur Rehman, ACO Tasleem Khan, Secretaries of 36 Union Councils of District Mansehra, Revenue Officer, leaders of UCDMC and ERRA officials.