Training program on Disaster Resistant Construction Technologies

Countries in the South Asia region are highly vulnerable to all major natural hazards, including Earthquakes, Landslides, Tsunamis, Floods, Droughts, and Tropical Cyclones that frequently cut across national borders. Six of the Member States viz. Afghanistan, Bhutan, Bangladesh, India,Nepal and Pakistan are situated in the high seismic zone or in proximity of Himalayan Ranges which is highly prone to earthquakes and associated hazards. Countries like Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Pakistan and Sri Lanka having very long coastline are highly susceptible to threat of Cyclones and Tsunamis which arising in the Bay of Bengal, Arabian sea and Indian Ocean. Further, substantial human and economic assets are exposed to hazards through growth processes such as high population growth, ever increasing migration, urbanization and economic development.

While it is not possible to avoid exposure to disaster events, land use planning and location decisions must be accompanied by other structural or non-structural methods for preventing or mitigating the associated risk. The priorities of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction have ample references to building and land use regulatory development and implementation thereof is a key element of disaster risk reduction. This agenda is a clear evidence of a strong international consensus to expand the full potential of effective building regulation in reducing risks.

As substantial population of SAARC Member States are exposed to frequent threat of various natural hazards, they have developed various indigenous adaptive skills and technologies relating to immovable and moveable assets so that they are less vulnerable to disasters. However, the skills and knowledge seems to be disappearing for various reasons. One of the main reasons is perceived as distrust on indigenous knowledge. It is absolutely important for disaster management professionals and practitioners to have an open mind and approach to respect, adopt and preserve this precious knowledge and improve upon it with local people through participatory processes.Accordingly, SDMC (IU) has planned the sessions andintends to highlight these indigenous skills and practices used locally amongst the SAARC Member States.

The program Disaster Resistant Constriction Technology aims to provide a platform for sharing of knowledge from various SAARC Member States and facilitate exchange of experiences amongst the professionals and first responders from the SAARC Member States to achieve a solemn objective of making SAARC region more disaster resilient.