The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has begun work to develop a disaster management plan for Guraidhoo, Kaafu Atoll.
NDMA said working sessions to formulate the island’s disaster management plan began on 9 August and will continue until 13 August. The Guraidhoo Island Council and representatives of all key institutions on the island are participating in the sessions.
NDMA Director of Programmes, Research and Advocacy Hassan Ziyau said the first three days will focus on developing the disaster management plan, while the final two days will be dedicated to training a community-based emergency response team comprising individuals who will respond in the event of an emergency.
“The first three days are specifically dedicated to developing the disaster management plan. We are doing this with the participation of all institutions on the island and all relevant stakeholders. The final two days will focus on training Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT)" Ziyau said.
The programme is being conducted under the Community-Based Resilience Building Framework, which was developed after revising the framework previously used for island-level programmes aimed at reducing disaster risks, strengthening preparedness for emergencies and increasing public awareness.
NDMA said the programme is being carried out with financial assistance from the REDS in SIDS programme implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), with support from Luxembourg, Denmark and South Korea.
The Community-Based Disaster Risk Management Framework, which NDMA had implemented since 2012, has now been revised with UNDP assistance and transformed into the Community-Based Resilience Building Framework.
NDMA has so far carried out work to develop island-level disaster management plans in 72 islands. The Authority said work is also continuing to develop plans for additional islands.