PALDRM and An-Najah University Collaborate on Workshop for National Strategy and Media Plan for Risk Reduction
The National Disaster Risk Management Center (PALDRM) in Palestine has joined forces with the Urban Planning and Disaster Risk Reduction Center at An-Najah National University to organize a pivotal workshop. The workshop aimed to deliberate on the upcoming national strategy and media plan for risk reduction spanning from 2024 to 2029. The collaborative effort was undertaken to gather valuable feedback before finalizing the plan for submission to the Presidency of the Council of Ministers. The workshop took place at the PRCS building in Al-Bireh and comprised two focused sessions.
The inaugural session presented and dissected the national strategy, while the subsequent session honed in on the media plan. The workshop extensively documented all insights provided by the national technical team, which comprehensively represented governmental institutions, private sector entities, civil society organizations, academia, media, and various societal groups. The deliberations encompassed discussions and the initiation of essential amendments, ultimately refining the final document.
The National Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction 2024-2029 stands as a comprehensive roadmap and a guiding beacon for the nation's holistic response to disaster risk reduction. In tandem, an all-encompassing media plan has been meticulously devised. This plan prioritizes public education and awareness at all strata of society, with a primary objective of bolstering societal resilience against the multifaceted threats and impacts of both human-induced and natural disasters. Every stage of this undertaking has been meticulously conducted with broad-based participation from the public, private, and civil sectors.
The workshop commenced under the auspices of Mr. Hassan Abu-Alaela, President of PALDRM. Prof. Jalal Dabeek, Director of the Urban Planning and Disasters Risk Reduction Center and the Head of the Advisory Team from An-Najah University, was a key participant. The advisory team also included members such as Dr. Ali Abdel Hamid, Director of the Urban and Regional Planning Unit; Eng. Muhammad Dwaikat, Media Coordinator; and Eng. Diana Innab, responsible for collating the technical team's notes and amendments.
Attendees at the workshop comprised members of the National Center, the technical team, and a cohort of media professionals who represented various sectors and components of the state.
In concluding the workshop, Mr. Abu-Alaela emphasized the project's scale and ambition, lauding the advisory team's dedication at An-Najah National University. He called for a concerted effort to embrace and implement mechanisms that enhance community awareness and cultivate a collective understanding of disaster risk reduction. Mr. Abu-Alaela underscored the pivotal role of Palestinian national media, both official and unofficial, in executing the message and supporting the realization of the national strategy and media plan. This collective effort aims to empower the Palestinian populace to confront natural hazards and challenges arising from the Israeli occupation.
