MUZAFFARGARH, Oct 10: Hundreds of social workers, inhabitants of riverain belt and non-government organisation activists staged a rally to mark the International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction here on Wednesday.
By a resolution passed on Dec 22, 1989, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) designated the second Wednesday of October as International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction. The day was to be observed annually during the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction, 1990-1999.
By another resolution, passed on Dec 21, 2001, the UNGA decided to maintain the observance of the day on the second Wednesday of October as a vehicle to promote a global culture of natural disaster reduction, including disaster prevention, mitigation and preparedness.
The Doaba Foundation arranged the rally from Kutchery Chowk to the District Council’s office which was aimed at raising awareness among the masses about reducing effects of natural catastrophes like floods, earthquakes, cyclones, rains and bush fires.
Addressing the participants, Doaba Project Director Asif Nadeem said during the Oct 8, 2005, earthquake at least 17,000 children died in schools while many others died in hospitals or on their way to the hospitals due to a lack of awareness to cope with such catastrophes.
He said Muzaffargarh was vulnerable to floods, land erosions by rivers and rains because it was located in the delta of River Indus and River Chenab. In 1992, floods in River Chenab had killed scores of people besides rendering around 3,000 families homeless.
He said that his foundation worked in flood-hit areas in two tehsils of the district and trained all villagers how to save life and property including livestock in the wake of any calamity. He said the foundation supplied agricultural tools to farmers and established five women health centres in the flood-hit areas.
EDO Revenue Dr Waseem Shamshad, EDO Health Dr Habibul Rehman, EDO Community Development Malik Khair Muhammad Budh, NCHD District General Manager Waqar Ahmad Jaffery and others were also present on the occasion.