3 Apr 2018 | CBFEWS

Gilgit-Baltistan partnership in disaster risk management: key effort in enabling mountain people understand and respond to consequences of climate change

Building on collaborations on disaster management in Gilgit Baltistan in 2017, the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), the Gilgit Baltistan Disaster Management Authority (GB-DMA), and the Aga Khan Agency for Habitat (AKAH) have reinforced their commitment to improve disaster risk management in Gilgit Baltistan, Pakistan, by joining hands to develop the Disaster Risk Management Plan of Gilgit Baltistan.

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The DG of GB-DMA, the DG of ICIMOD, and the CEO of AKAH signing the letter of intent

ICIMOD, AKAH, and GB-DMA signed a tripartite agreement at a partnership-signing ceremony in Islamabad on 27 February 2018. The team also discussed the glacier monitoring and hazard management activity progress. AKAH and GB-DMA committed to developing a mechanism for the sustainable operation, repair, and maintenance and ownership of the community based flood early warning system (CBFEWS) installed in Gilgit Baltistan.

Mr Yahya Akhunzada, the Director General of GBDMA, applauded ICIMOD and AKAH efforts in disaster management and emphasized the need to pilot and upscale cheaper and smarter CBFEWS throughout the region. He also requested that ICIMOD and AKAH help develop a budget estimate to develop GB-DMA’s central data collection system and warning centre. Dr David Molden, the Director General of ICIMOD, pledged ongoing support to Pakistan’s government and community institutions, and highlighted the partnership in disaster risk management in Gilgit Baltistan as key to enabling mountain people to understand and respond to consequences of climate change. Mr Nawab Ali Khan, the Chief Executive Officer of AKAH, thanked ICIMOD’s support for AKAH and GB-DMA, and recalled the common bond between AKAH, ICIMOD, and GB-DMA for efficient disaster management in Gilgit Baltistan.