6 Year Cooperation with the GoS on Disaster Management (2003 to 2009) سورية - Syria

Disaster Risks Reduction Projects in SYRIA (NCBDM) National Capacity Building for Disaster Management (CDRP) Comprehensive Disaster Reduction Programme (Sub- Regional) Sub-Regional Facility for Cooperation in Disaster Reduction among the Arab States (BCPR) Support to the Design of an Improved Crisis Preparedness, Management and Recovery Institutional System

Goals & Objectives: National Capacity Building for Disaster Management (NCBDM): The project aimed to assist the government in improving local capacities to deal with disasters: 1.Developing & modernizing local strategic plans for protection & disaster management in the governorates. 2.Local capacity building to people involved in disaster management in the governorates through executing training courses on public safety & disaster management. 3.Build Geographic Information system GIS to support decision makers in disaster management & connect data to its geographic location. 4.Build a supporting wireless communication system for disaster management.

Comprehensive Disaster Reduction Programme (CDRP): The project aims to adopt a comprehensive plan to integrate the concept of disaster risks reduction into the development planning, and to increase the level of awareness in the society through: 1.Modernization of the institutional framework of disaster management. 2.Capacity Building and specialized training 3.Improving the level of awareness at the local levels. 4.Developing local capacity and improving disaster management staff abilities. Goals & Objectives:

Sub-Regional Facility for Cooperation in Disaster Reduction among Arab States: The project aims to strengthen regional & national capacities for disaster risks reduction through: 1.Developing a sub-regional platform for knowledge sharing, networking and the development of common approaches to training and capacity building based on good practices. 2.Disseminate the experiences gained in Syria to other participating countries Goals & Objectives:

Support to Design of an Improved Crisis Preparedness, Management and Recovery Institutional System: The project aims to design a unified and efficient national crisis management structure and policy framework for preparedness and response through: 1.Improved cooperation within national institutional organizations. 2.Timely and adequate response to identified needs. 3.Increased national capacity to coordinate and manage crisis and recovery responses. 4.Improved efficiency of humanitarian and recovery responses, no duplication, better use of recourses. 5.Improved national capacity for recovery response in coordination with relevant international organizations and financial institutions. Goals & Objectives:

1)Logistical coordination for the humanitarian aids to Iraq with different International NGOs. e.g. UNHCR, ICRC,WFP,UNICEF. 2)Support Institutional & Legislative systems for Disaster Reduction. 3)Capacity Building, (Drills and Scenarios) 4)Technical Support. 5)Raising Awareness. 6)Pilot project: Earthquake Master Plan for Damascus. 7)Establishing National Coordination Center for Disaster Management. 8)Establishing National Disaster Management Training Center. Activities:

Higher Council for Civil Defense Headed by: Prime Minister Higher National Committee for Disaster Management Headed by: Minister of Local Administration & Environment Central Command for Civil Defense Headed by: Minister of Local Administration & Environment Sub-Commands for Civil Defense (14 Commands) Headed by: Governor Health Dep Health Dep. Police Dep. Fire Dep. Civil Defense Dep. Technical Services Dep. Supply Dep. Water Dep. Electricity Dep. Education Dep. Media Reps. Local Level Central Level Support Institutional & Legislative systems for Disaster Reduction: Simplify the National Disaster Management Institutional Framework

Support Institutional & Legislative systems for Disaster Risks Reduction: Develop and update the emergency plan for disaster reduction for all governorates (Database). Develop emergency plan for light oil system. Develop emergency plan for marine pollution. Develop emergency plan for disaster risks reduction for Homs as a pilot case. Develop emergency plan for the old city of Damascus. Develop emergency plan for the old city of Aleppo.

Capacity Building: Executing 20 training courses on public safety & disaster management in 14 governorates. More than 700 participations. Specialized training courses in: Earthquake Constructions Studies Auditing, Safety Oil Tanker, Safety Passport for Employees in the Petroleum Industry Sectors, Preventive Maintenance and Safety of Sea Berths and Marine Installation Sea lines …etc. Participating and executing technical workshops on disaster risks reduction planning, dealing with forests fires, disaster education at schools for teachers and mentors A.Training Courses:

The project assisted the Higher Council for Civil Defense in preparing and executing 3 emergency drills, two headed by the Prime Minister, and one headed by the Deputy Prime Minister. One of the drills used the video conference system in the Ministry of Local Administration & Environment with Aleppo & Tartous governorates. The other two drills were to all governorates done in the operation room at the Prime Ministry. The project assisted the execution of the drills technically by using the communication system (HF & UHF) and using the Disaster Management Software, which was disseminated to all governorates and to the Prime Ministry. Oil spills scenario in Tartous, with the Life/EU Fire Drill on Oil tank in Banias Drills & Scenarios:

Technical Support: A.GIS for supporting decision makers during disasters: Development of a special GIS for disaster management and disseminating it to All governorates: The system has been developed in order to structure and save all data related to disaster management available in the database server and link it to governorates maps of scale 1/ The system was distributed to all governorates accompanied with training programmes for Using the system and supplying some equipments for emergency rooms.

Technical Support: B.Develop GIS for disaster management at the local level (Damascus City) : Develop GIS for disaster management at the local level (Damascus City): The system includes a detailed map representing all areas, streets, avenues, and buildings on a scale of 1/5000. This will assist the disaster management in defining the nearest fire fighting vehicles, police, and other emergency teams to the disaster site and provide the shortest route to take and the optimum time to get there.

Technical Support: C.Develop two GIS systems for management of supplying materials and petrol warehouses :

1. Building digital maps for the seismic events of : A report on the seismic events of was prepared, the events have been linked to the digital map of Syria. 2. Building digital maps for the common diseases: A digital map that displays the location and quantity of common diseases infections has been built. These common diseases include (Salmonella, Rabbis, Maltese fever, Lashmania, Hydatidosis). Technical Support: D.GIS multi hazard mapping:

24 GPS devices have been prepared and is working in the field of disaster management at the local decision support centers (LDSC) in the governorates. A training course has been given to all the staff at the LDSC in the governorates. Technical Support: E.Global Positioning system for Disaster Management :

Finalization of installing the audio-visual system (Video conference system) facilities in the operation rooms in all governorates to facilitate the communication among decision makers in the state of emergencies. Technical Support: F.Video Conference System:

Remote communication system HF The project began in providing two vehicles with two mobile stations installed on them in Now the project has installed 8 mobile stations and one fixed station divided as follows: Damascus MLAE ( a fixed central station and mobile station), Damascus governorate, rural Damascus, Sweida, Raqa, Lattakia, Idleb, Homs, (mobile stations on vehicles. Technical Support: G.Communication system for disaster management :

Nearby communication system UHF A UHF repeater has been installed on a communication tower in Kafer Suseh area in Damascus for the full coverage of UHF communication in Damascus and its rural. Disaster management staff have received courses on using the wireless communication system in its two kinds HF, UHF which used for emergencies only. Technical Support: G.Communication system for disaster management :

Raising Awareness: 6 booklets have been prepared and published (Home Guide Safety, First Aid, Earthquakes, Floods, Fires, and Storms). Cartoon & Digital game (Be Ready) for children have been prepared & produced. Children magazine about raising awareness against natural disasters. Provide a suggested study about the concepts of natural disasters which will be included in the modern curricula. Launching 2 websites for CDRP project and Sub-Regional project.

Awareness campaign against hazards of Illegal Settlements Due to the importance of preventing illegal settlements and increase the awareness against its risks the project is working on preparing an awareness campaign in cooperation with the concerned parties such as Ministry of Local Administration & Environment, Governorates & Municipalities, Engineering Syndicate, Media, and civil societies. The awareness campaign aims to prevent illegal settlements in order to reduce the impacts of disasters on individuals. This can be done through finding alternative settlements by including construction sector investors in this campaign. The project will produce a film about the risks of illegal settlements Raising Awareness:

The project annual work plan for year 2009 aims to: 1.Analyze the current situation. 2.Seismic assessment and hazards zoning 3.Urban planning issues & legal issues. 4.Educational & social issues. 5.Risks and disaster management plans 6.Post-earthquake stage. Pilot Project: Damascus Earthquake Master Plan

The project is working on establishing the National Coordination Center for Disaster Management (NCCDM) which aims to: 1.To be the Coordination centre for the 3 UNDP disaster reduction projects. 2.Establish an Alternative Operation Room to be used by the Higher Council for Disaster Management in cases of Natural Disasters. 3.Elaborate studies and researches in the field of potential risks and strategic planning for disaster management 4.Supervision and technical support for the establishment of the Disaster Management National Training Center. Establishing National Coordination Center for Disaster Management

The project is preparing the establishment of the National Disaster Management Training Center in Rural Damascus The center will accept students after finishing their secondary school education (baccalaureate) to study one of the following: 1.Disaster Management. 2.Search & rescue. 3.Fire fighting. The center will help the government in establishing technical specialized teams for risks assessment, disaster communication, relief, logistical support, and operation room management. Establishing Disaster Management Training Center

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