TIMERGARA, Dec 19: The local political activists and elders have asked the international donors to fund projects of imparting training to volunteers about disaster management to enable them to minimise risks and losses during natural catastrophe.

They were addressing a function organised by Social Awareness Development Organisation (SADO) with financial support of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Social and political activists, former representatives of local government, teachers and elders of the area attended the function.

Addressing the gathering, SADO chief Umar Zada said that they would help UNDP to complete its project titled “Community disaster risks management” under which male and female volunteers from six selected union councils of the district were being trained.

He said that the volunteers were trained in skills, techniques and tools to manage human and physical resources during natural disasters like floods, earthquakes, storms, torrential rains, etc. He said that people wanted expansion of the programme to other union councils.

Mr Zada said that volunteers were told about early warning system, rescue work, relief activities and rehabilitation.

Former union nazims Ihsanul Haq Tajak, Khalid Hassan, SADO project coordinator Mohammad Asad and others also spoke on the occasion.

They said that not only the volunteers but also students and teachers of the higher secondary schools and colleges in the district should be trained so that more skilled people could be available during natural disasters.

“No government in the world can cope with natural disasters without public support. Therefore people should be trained on large scale to help governments in disaster management,” they added. They said that early warning system was also needed to be developed on modern lines.

Disaster kits were distributed among volunteers of the six union councils on the occasion. JOURNALISTS:

The Pakistan Red Crescent Society in collaboration with International Committee of Red Cross arranged three-day first aid training for working journalists of Dir Lower and Upper in Peshawar.

Twenty journalists participated in the training, imparted by Dr Asif Raza and PRCS coordinator Sajid Khan.

Speaking on final day of the training, ICRC provincial chief Ms Alina asked journalists to equip themselves with tools and skills to help injured people during blasts and other disasters.

She said that ICRC had been carrying out its activities without facing any threat across the globe. “People trust us as we are committed to provide urgent medical cover to people in troubles without any discrimination,” she said.

The journalists, she said, were the first human beings to reach out the spots during disasters so they should know first aid treatment to provide it to injured ones.