On July 22^nd 2010, a workshop that the Earth Sciences and Seismic Engineering Center (ESSEC) had organized earlier at the University in cooperation with the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UN-ISDR) titled "Is Nablus Ready to Deal with Disasters?" was concluded. The workshop consisted of a series of lectures that addressed different topics related to disaster risk management and preparedness.

The participants concluded the workshop with a number of recommendations and suggestions as follows:

1. With respect to coordination:

·         There is an aching need for effective coordination and cooperation between the different organizations and institutions in the society.

·         It is important to eliminate any interference or contradiction between the different bodies.

·         To start with an early coordination.

·         To conduct periodic meetings.

·         To provide high quality services that comply with international standards in an organized manner.

1. Public safety measures:

1.  
   • To make sure that all public and private institutions are committed to public safety measures.
   • To follow a sound methodology according to clear and specific criteria.
   • To make sure that all related organizations, including the police and the fire departments, are performing their role in implementing and monitoring the implementation of public safety measures.

1. Researches and studies:

·         To have the issue of disasters as the focus for all research work at the different Palestinian universities.

·         To make sure that all public and private institutions take part in carrying out such research.

1. Health status and health institutions:

·         There should be a balanced distribution of all health institutions and organizations in the different parts of Nablus.

·         Health services should be improved and equally delivered to people.

·         Improving control over the establishment and building of health institutions to make sure that they comply with public safety standards.

1. With respect to buildings and constructions:

• Activate control over public and private buildings is needed.
• Enforce necessary laws and regulations that would guarantee the execution of the abovementioned points.
• Apply public safety measures on the different buildings in the city so as to create "The Safe City".

1. The Governorates role:

·         Activate the role of the Governor, being the Head of the Supreme Council of the Civil Defense according to the law.

·         Provide the Governorate's staff with the necessary training and support in order to perform their duties properly.

·         To make sure that the Governor is involved extensively in the various aspects of the public life.

1. Activating and maximizing the role of the police:

·         The role of the police department is extremely important, especially in the first moments of the aftermath; such role must be supported and maximized.

·         The police must secure a number of key and vital locations inside the city during and after the disaster.

·         To coordinate efforts between the different police departments in the city.

1. Fire departments and civil defense preparedness:

• To improve and enhance the performance of Nablus Fire Department by providing it with necessary equipments, especially those that are used to search for missing people.
• To provide fire department's cadres and staff with enough training and development programs.
• To develop a sound strategy and mechanism to coordinate efforts between civil defense and fire departments in Nablus and enhance the capabilities of the civil defense in the city.

1. Other issues:

• To recommend and nominate the city of Nablus to be the model city in Palestine with respect to disaster preparedness.
• To activate the role of the different committees and societies, particularly the supreme emergency committee and maximize the participation of An-Najah University in this committee.
• To continue holding meetings and seminars for the purpose of following up with progress on ground.
• To set plans and evaluate them constantly through executing possible scenarios which simulate various situations that a real disaster creates.
• Honoring those who are creative and hard-working and punishing those who do not perform their duties properly.

The workshop included a number of lectures that discussed the basic guidelines that must be followed in order to execute the disaster risk reduction strategy properly. They also included discussing the list of the ten main points that must be considered in order to face disasters.

The basic guidelines to face disasters:

It is important to pay attention to a number of key human principles such as neutrality and honesty when delivering aids to people in time of disaster. The transcript of the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction titled "Moving from Words to Action": Executing Hyogo Framework for Action is based on a number of guidelines including the following:

• Disaster risk reduction requires an effective involvement of the local society in this issue.
• Governments hold the responsibility to execute disaster risk reduction measures and strategies.
• Disaster risk reduction must be integrated into developmental projects and activities.
• The multiple risks confrontation strategy leads to improving effectiveness.
• Development of the capabilities of the main disaster risk reduction strategy.
• Considering decentralization regarding the responsibility of executing disaster risk reduction measures and plans.
• The issue of the two sexes is a key factor in disaster risks reduction.
• Partnership between the public and private sectors is an essential tool in disaster risk reduction.
• It is important to deal with disaster risks according to each situation alone since different situations involve different levels of risk, thus, require different risk reduction strategies and procedures.

The following is a list of the ten main points necessary to enable cities face disasters:

1-      To have organization and coordination in order to understand disaster risks, thus reducing their impact on the people. Such coordination must be based on the participation of the people, the different local institutions and the civil society. It is also important to make sure that each institution understands its role and participation in disaster risk reduction.

2-      To specify a certain budget for disaster risk reduction, to offer financial support to home owners, low-income families, local communities, as well as the public and private sectors in order to invest the money in disaster risk reduction projects.

3-      To have constant update of the data that is related to risks and vulnerability, prepare an evaluation of the risks and use them as a basis for plans and decisions that are made for urban development. Also, to ensure that preparedness plans are available to everyone in the city and that people are aware of the procedures that must be followed in time of disaster.

4-      To invest in the establishment of a solid infrastructure that can withstand disasters and survive their risks.

5-      To evaluate the level of safety in the different schools and health facilities in the city and make sure that they can face disasters.

6-      To execute disaster-proof design plans for buildings and construction in the city so as to make sure that they can survive disasters. Also, to prepare adequate planning for land use, provide low-income families with safe land and develop random neighborhoods as possible.

7-      To make sure that training and teaching programs on how to deal with disasters and how to reduce their risks are available at the various schools and institutions in the city.

8-      To protect natural environmental systems and natural barriers which are necessary to hold back floods, landslides, storms and other forms of disaster. Also to adapt with the change in weather in order to predict disasters and reduce their impacts.

9-      To install and build early warning systems, support emergency management in the city and regularly perform mass training on evacuation and preparedness before, during and after disasters.

10-  To make sure that survivors needs are met and that reconstruction works are properly coordinated in order to recover as fast as possible. Also, to provide citizens with support and guidance with respect to reconstruction of destroyed buildings and aids delivery.