May 27, 2007	Sunday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 10, 1428

GILGIT, May 26: A group of French volunteers from the International Emergency Team on Saturday made a presentation here on how to deal with a disaster situation. The aim of the exercise was to create awareness about calamities among people of the Northern Areas, a French volunteer said.

The Aga Khan Planning & Building Services—Pakistan (AKPBS-P) has teamed up with the French volunteers to sensitise the public, particularly schoolchildren, about earthquake preparedness.

An official of the AKPBS said the programme would enabled the communities to actually feel the effects of an earthquake and learn how to survive one using a simulator (a computer-based platform with 3-dimensional visual aids).

He said the unique computer program, designed by the French International Emergency Team, provided the participants with a “sensitisation opportunity” by using the simulator platform that was brought to Gilgit from France.

He said the participants were taught about earthquake safety by utilising an interactive training workshop.

A Canada-based volunteer of the AKPBS-P, Nadeem Sunderji, said the objective of the high-tech and unique programme was to raise awareness among schoolchildren about what to do during quakes. The programme was the first of its kind in the country.

He said after the exercise children would be able to share their knowledge with their parents, families and friends. Mr Sunderji said that teachers would also be trained under the programme.