Muzaffarabad:The State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) and Rescue 1122 organized a Disaster Resilience Awareness Walk, seminar and flag march in Muzaffarabad on Wednesday to commemorate the devastating October 8, 2005 earthquake and raise public awareness about disaster prevention, preparedness and safety measures.
Member of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly Noreen Arif, Mayor of Muzaffarabad Municipal Corporation Sikandar Nisar Gilani, SDMA Director General Saeed Qureshi, Assistant Commissioner Muzaffarabad Hammad Bashir, Pakistan Red Crescent State Branch Secretary Gulzar Fatima, SDMA Director Administration Nauman Shafiq and SDMA Director Operations Moazzam Zafar were among those who participated in the awareness walk.
Officials and representatives of SDMA, Rescue 1122, Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS), United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), Muslim Hands, Islamic Relief Pakistan and Al-Mustafa Welfare Society also took part in the event.
Girl Guides, Boy Scouts, trainees and officials from the Kashmir Forest School, representatives of the Institute of Geology at the University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Civil Defence volunteers, civil society members, students, citizen volunteers and media representatives also participated in large numbers.
The participants carried banners and placards bearing messages highlighting disaster preparedness, prevention and safety measures.
Addressing the gathering, speakers described the October 8, 2005 earthquake as one of the most tragic disasters in the history of Azad Kashmir, which caused massive loss of life and property.
They said the annual commemoration served as a reminder of the importance of advance preparedness, effective planning and public awareness to deal with natural disasters.
‘Natural disasters can not be prevented, but their impact can be significantly reduced through timely preparedness, precautionary measures, modern rescue systems, and public awareness,’ the speakers said.
They urged citizens to follow safety protocols during earthquakes and other natural disasters and to fully cooperate with the instructions issued by relevant authorities during emergencies.
The speakers said October 8 provided an opportunity to remember the sacrifices of those who lost their lives in the 2005 earthquake and to renew the collective resolve to respond more effectively to any future natural disaster.
The awareness activities were followed by a flag march organized by SDMA and Rescue 1122. Ambulances, fire tenders and rescue vehicles of Rescue 1122 participated in the march, along with Civil Defence volunteers, Boy Scouts, Girl Guides, trainees and officials from the Kashmir Forest School, and representatives of various welfare and partner organizations.
Participants carried the national flag and SDMA flags during the march.
The event concluded with prayers for the departed souls of the victims of the 2005 earthquake.