PESHAWAR: A three-day training session to equip the local community members with knowledge and skills to efficiently respond to disasters and emergencies concluded in the Shoghor village of Chitral district, a statement issued here on Sunday said.

Volunteers from Karimabad, Arkari and Breshgram valleys attended the training on ‘community-based search and rescue operation’.

The training was organised by Regional Integrated Multi-Hazards Early Warning System for Africa and Asia (RIMES) with the assistance of USAID and Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD).

A total of 27 community volunteers participated in the session.

The concluding ceremony was attended by elders and representatives of civil society.

Experts of Rescue 1122 trained the volunteers in search and rescue and provision of first aid to the injured.

The participants noted that the area was highly prone to natural disasters, including flash floods, glacial lake outburst floods and avalanches, which had caused deaths of hundreds of people in the recent past.

They said people needed to be trained to start search and rescue activities as first responders before the arrival of formal aid.

Amber Masud, the disaster risk management specialist of RIMES, said automatic weather stations were also being set up in upper parts of different valleys to help provide early warning to the local communities in case of flash floods so people could move to safer places.

Certificates were awarded to the volunteers attending the training.

Published in Dawn, May 29th, 2023