QUETTA: The United Na­­tions World Food Prog­ram­­me (WFP) handed over new­ly constructed emergency storage facilities, prefabricated temperature-contr­ol­led storage units, and IT equipment to the Provincial Disaster Management Auth­ority (PDMA) of Balo­chis­tan and District Disaster Management Authorities (DDMAs) of Chaman and Chagai on Wednesday.

The contribution was part of the WFP’s efforts to support and strengthen the Balochistan government for effective emergency preparedness and disaster risk reduction.

Wednesday’s handover ceremony was organised at a hotel in Quetta. It was noted that the two emergency storage facilities, along with the two temperature-controlled storage units and IT equipment, would enhance the emergency storage, coordination, communication and reporting capacity of DDMAs.

WFP Country Director Chris Kaye said the WFP was pleased to provide the support and the additional capacity that would help the provincial government better manage and coordinate responses to disasters in the region.

“Capacity to store and manage critical relief items at local levels can save lives as well as reduce the impact on communities caused by sudden-onset disasters,” he added.

WFP, through its provincial office in Quetta, initiated deliberations with the Balochistan PDMA and has agreed on critical needs-based interventions, toge­ther with UN and NGO partners, to ensure all efforts are made to improve preparedness and response.

Published in Dawn, April 21st, 2022