MINGORA: Warning Swat district is highly vulnerable to calamities, experts on Tuesday stressed the need for educating students on reduction of disaster risks to prevent damage to human life on campus and in other areas.

They were speaking during a meeting of the district disaster management committee formed under the project for disaster risk reduction and emergency preparedness in schools.

The project has been implemented by the Sarhad Rural Support Programme in collaboration with Unicef. Swat ADC Fawad Ahmad, AC Riaz Ahmad, officials of the C&W, irrigation, public health, education and police departments, and representatives of Rescue 1122, SRSP and Pesco.

ADC Fawad Khan said the district disaster management committee was formed to closely monitor hazards in the district, especially in schools, and develop plans for dealing disasters.

Warn Swat district highly vulnerable to calamities

He said he was hopeful that all stakeholders would work together for reducing disaster risks. Dildar Khan of the SRSP said proper surveys were conducted to identify hazards in 78 schools and that their findings were sent to the relevant departments for necessary action.

“We found several schools, where electric poles and LT lines are installed posing threatening the life of students. Also, doors and windows in many schools are so unsafe that they can threaten lives in emergency,” he said.

He also complained about low boundary walls and absence of ramps for students with disabilities and emergency exits in many schools. He said proper training was being imparted to students and teachers on how to prevent risks to their life in case of disasters or emergency.

Mohammad Ayaz of the communication and works department said a standard design for ramps was approved by the government and that their installation would begin soon. District emergency officer of the Rescue 1122 Imran Khan said his department not only conducted rescue operations but it also organised training programmes for schoolchildren and community members on disaster risk reduction. The ADC directed the relevant authorities to ensure risk-free environment for students on campus.

Published in Dawn, February 20th, 2019