AMARC and PPF mission makes key recommendations for disaster response -
IFEX http://ow.ly/2Uq5H
13 October 2010
Campaigns and Advocacy
AMARC and PPF mission makes key recommendations for disaster response
(AMARC/PPF/IFEX) - Islamabad, October 9, 2010 - The international
assessment mission organized by the World Association of Community Radio
Broadcasters (AMARC) and the Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF) called on the
government of Pakistan to allow the establishment of at least 30
non-commercial flood-relief radio stations through community-based
organistions in the severely affected districts.
These were the key recommendations of an international assessment mission
carried out between 30 September and 10 October 2010. The mission visited
flood-hit communities in Thatta District (Sindh), Muzaffargarh District
(Punjab), and Charsadda/Nowshera (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa). The mission was
supported by BHN Foundation, Radio FMYY and Friedrich Ebert Stiftung. The
international mission team included experts from UK, Japan and Indonesia.
The principle observations and findings of the mission were that while
existing FM local radios are playing an important role in flood response,
there are gaps in the provision of relevant local information in some of
the severely and moderately affected communities which are unlikely to be
met on a commercial basis. In light of these findings, the international
assessment mission recommended the establishment of flood-relief radio
stations in locations not served by existing local FM radio services.
In addition, the mission recommended that support be provided to existing
local FM radios to continue their vital work of providing information and
voice for flood-affected communities. That could be at a community level
to capture the voices and experiences of flood-hit communities and to
develop community correspondents among the affected communities. The
mission also recommended that work be undertaken at the provincial level
with media, NGO and governmental stakeholders to raise awareness of the
role of community media in disaster response and to engage in policy
dialogue.
AMARC is working with PPF to develop a plan of action to support the
humanitarian relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction effort, with a
focus on voice and access to information at the community level for people
in the affected communities, especially the most vulnerable and
marginalised.
The international assessment mission was framed by growing international
experience of community radio in humanitarian communications, disaster
response and reconstruction. Community radio stations under the ownership,
control and management of local communities and operated on a
non-commercial basis have proven to be of particular importance in
strengthening the voices and access to information of disaster-affected
communities. Community radios have played a key role in disaster response
in Indonesia, Nepal, Thailand, Haiti and many other countries.
Devastating floods in Pakistan have left more than 2,000 people dead and
more than a million homes destroyed since the flooding began in July 2010.
The United Nations estimates that more than 20 million people have been
affected by the flooding, and have described it as one of the worst
humanitarian disasters in recent human history.
World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters
705, rue Bourget, bureau 100
Montreal, Quebec H4C 2M6
Canada
secgen (@) si.amarc.org
Phone: +1 514 982 0351
Fax: +1 514 849 7129
Pakistan Press Foundation
Press Centre
Shahrah Kamal Ataturk
Karachi 74200
Pakistan
ppf (@) pakistanpressfoundation.org
Phone: +92 21 263 3215
Fax: +92 21 221 7069
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