Prior to 2013, there was no proper system of flood or disaster monitoring and information sharing in district Chitral. On the request of the district administration Chitral, Pakistan GLOF Project provided needed technical and financial support to establish and maintain a well equipped District Emergency Response Cell (DERC) in Chitral City and Tehsil Emergency Response Cell (TERC) at the Booni valley of Tehsil Mastuj.

In the past one of the main problems was the disruption of communication between upper and lower Tehsils of Chitral in times of disaster. Keeping this fact in view, the Pakistan GLOF Project equipped the DERC and TERC with an all weather wireless communication system. During recent disasters this communication system played a central role in ensuring coordinated efforts for disaster management, smooth flow of information and expediting rescue and relief activities.

Excepted from Brief on Glof situation in District Chitral

Published in Dawn, Sunday Magazine, August 23rd, 2015

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