DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND DISASTER MANAGEMENT TRAININGS OF IRANIAN NGO REPRESENTATIVES
Date: 18/04/2004
Background Information : International Blue Crescent (IBC) has responded with very effective campaigns and projects to the Bam Earthqukae in 2003 .As a part of these projects, trainings including field exercises have been prepared in cooperation with AHDER (Disaster Preparedness and Earthquake Trainings Association) and AKA (Search and Rescue Research Association) for a group of thirteen representatives of Iranian NGOs to be realized in Marmaris/Turkey.
Project Summary : As a part of its efforts after the Bam Earthquake in Iran IBC prepared a training program to be realized in Marmaris between the dates 18 th of April 2004 and 26 th of April 2004. 13 representatives from various NGOs of Iran attended the “Disaster Preparedness and Management Trainings” which has been supported by Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and American Friends Service Committee (AFSC).
Project Goal : The project has been implemented in the coordination of Prof. Dr. Ahmet Mete Işıkara
The aim of the project was to raise awareness of the representatives of various Iranian NGOs on the issue of disaster preparedness and response. The two main goals were;
- Raising the awareness level of the representatives about the risks and measurements to be taken to reduce them and their responsibilities.
- Realization of “Trainer Trainings” for the wide spreading of the knowledge and awareness.
Project Beneficiaries: The main beneficiary group that was identified was the representatives of the Iranian NGOs especially working on disaster related issues. These people would contribute to the risk mitigation and disaster preparedness efforts of their country.
Implemented Activities: “A to Z First Step Community Disaster Awareness” and “Light Search and Rescue Trainings” were realized by AKA (Search and Rescue Research Association).
All trainings were realized with exercises interactively. Training materials, documents and CDs has been distributed to every attendant.
During the trainings attendants shared their experiences and related documents of their country with the experts to identify the necessities and measurements to be taken from now on.
On 19 th of April 2004 the first day of the trainings, coordinator Prof. Dr. Ahmet Mete Isikara, International Blue Crescent Relief and Development Foundation Vice President Muzaffer Baca, Head Official of Marmaris district Cemalettin Ozdemir and Mayor of Turunc Ali Fuat Fidan gave speeches in the opening press conference. On 19 th and 20 th of April “A to Z First Step Community Disaster Awareness” training has been completed by the trainers of AKA. On 21 of April attendants realized their first presentation as “Trainers”. On 22 nd and 23 rd of April the second phase of the training which was Light Search and Rescue has been realized. On the 24 th of April attendants made some practices in 7 stations and completed LSAR application exam.
On the 25 th of April attendants applied the techniques on the debris that they have learned in the seven stations. They also formed their own coordination units and prepared coordination reports at the end of the practice just like they should during a disaster.
Press showed extensive attention to this project realized by IBC. Press representatives attended the press conference on the 19 th and the practice on the 25 th of April. News related with the project took place in daily news papers, national and local TV channels. Also in a local TV channel a panel discussion has been realized with the attendance of IBC representative and coordinator Prof. Dr . Ahmet Mete Isikara.
