The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has today initiated the formulation of the Island Disaster Management Plan for HA. Kelaa.

The consultative workshops for developing Kelaa’s disaster management framework are scheduled to proceed from today until the 20th of this month. These sessions involve active participation from the Kelaa Island Council and representatives from all key local institutions.

The NDMA stated that, following the established procedure, the first three days will be dedicated to formulating the Disaster Management Plan. The final two days will focus on training the Community-Based Emergency Response Team (CERT), who are designated as the first responders during emergency situations.

"The Disaster Management Plan is a pivotal component of our ongoing programs aimed at enhancing island resilience and fostering disaster-ready communities. Furthermore, having trained CERT members within the islands is a critical measure in mitigating damages and safeguarding lives during occurrences of disasters," stated Hassan Ziyau, Director of Programs, Research, and Advocacy at NDMA.

Various activities under the "Community-Based Resilience Building" (CBRB) initiative are being conducted to reduce disaster risks at the island level, improve disaster preparedness, and increase public awareness. The program in Kelaa is being implemented with the assistance of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

The Community-Based Disaster Risk Management (CBDRM) framework, which the NDMA had been utilizing since 2012, has now been revised and rebranded as Community-Based Resilience Building (CBRB) with the support of the UNDP.

To date, the NDMA has conducted Disaster Management Planning programs in 72 islands. The Authority is also continuing its efforts to develop similar plans for additional islands across the country.