SAARC Disaster Management Centre opened

New Delhi, Oct 10 (UNI) A Disaster Management Centre for the benefit of the member-countries of the SAARC was today opened in the capital city.

The centre, which would provide policy advice and facilitate capacity development services including learning, research, training, system development, expertise promotion and exchange of information for effective disaster risk reduction and management, was formally inaugurated by Home Minister Shivraj Patil.

The SAARC Disaster Management Centre will collect, compile, document and disseminate data, information, case studies, indigenious knowledge and good practices relating to disaster management, particularly from the member countries.

It will network with the national focal points of disaster management and with the concerned regional and international bodies.

The Centre will collaborate with other SAARC Centres, particularly SAARC Meteorological Research Centre, SAARC Coastal Zone Management Centre and SAARC Forestry sector to achieve synergies in programmes and activities.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Patil said the South Asian region is considered one of the most critical disaster hotspots on the globe and there is a lot that the countries of the region can learn from each other.

"As home to one of the oldest civilisation in the world, South Asia has a plenty of dying wisdom on disaster management which need to be documented, revived and made part of our overall strategy of disaster risk reduction and management," he said, adding that traditional wisdom based on accumulated local knowledge and experience for centuries must not be lost sight of and must be harmonised with modern practices.

Minister of State for External Affairs E Ahmed and the Vice Chairperson of the National Disaster Management Authority, General (Retd) N C Vij stressed the need for co-operation among the South Asian countries in the field of disaster management.

The Secretary (Border Management) in the Ministry of Home Affairs B S Lalli expressed confidence that the SAARC Disaster Management Centre would emerge as a vibrant centre of excellence.

Delegates from various SAARC countries were among those who attended the inaugural function.

UNI SH SHB KP1910