October 5^th. The National Agency on Disaster Risk Mitigation (NADRM) in Palestine and the Urban Planning and Disaster Risk Reduction–Earthquake Engineering Unit at An-Najah University successfully concluded a 3-day training course titled “The Arab and International Disaster Risk Reduction Strategy” which was organized at the National Authority’s Headquarter in Ramallah.

At the beginning of the meeting, Brigadier Wasef Eriqat, President of the (NADRM) in Palestine, welcomed the attendants and thanked the different institutions that participated in the course. He also pointed out the importance of such courses considering the many natural disasters that the world witnesses in these days. These courses is of substantial importance to the Palestinians since the country is under occupation which works continuously on hindering the national efforts towards building the Palestinian society’s capacity to face and deal with disasters in the most proper way.

Furthermore, he said disasters target the human being all the time but with science and knowledge, humans can successfully defeat any ordeal or disaster through good and planned preparation. Disasters are an individual, societal and official responsibility and requires the collaboration of all bodies in the country and the efforts put together in order to overcome the disaster.

The course was administered by Dr. Jalal Dabbeek, Director of the Urban Planning and Disaster Risk Reduction Center-Earthquake Engineering Unit at An-Najah and the vice presedent of NADRM, in addition to Eriqat and Engineer A’uhud Enaya Director of Strategic Planning and External Relations – Municipalities Development and Lending Fund and Member in the National Authority for Disaster Risk Mitigation.

The trainers addressed a number of subjects including: Basic concepts in disaster management, risk analysis (Risks and vulnerability, exposure and location), integrated, coordinated and comprehensive planning and task assignment, management and strategic planning, the Arab Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction, the International Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction (ISDR), Hyogo Framework for Action, the Palestinian reality (points of strength and weakness with respect to disaster risk reduction), the importance of voluntary work and societal participation, the role of the Palestinian woman in dealing with disasters and reducing their risks, in addition to security media during disasters, and the structure of the NADRM, its vision, message, goals and activities.

The lectures were further supported with documentary films showing earthquakes and the different measures that are taken during such situations and scenarios.

Participant in the course represented different local institutions including Birzeit, Istiqlal and Bethlehem universities, Al-Bireh Municipality, Jerusalem Electricity Company, the Arab-Islamic Bank, Rwwad Al-Ghad Magazine and the National Authority. The participants showed a great deal of interest in the course and its subject matter which indicates the extent to which the Palestinians are concerned with this field and their interest in increasing their capacity to face and deal with disastrous situations properly.

Finally, the participants recommended building the capacity of the people and the society and called for planned preparation to deal with disasters. They also called for more concentration on voluntary work and educating the public on disaster risk reduction as well as familiarizing them with the International Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction. At the end of the course, certificates were distributed among the participants.