Background
The promulgation of the National Disaster Management Ordinance, 2006 and the approval of National Disaster Risk Management Framework led to the establishment of National Disaster Management Authority as Focal point at the federal level, while State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) was established for Pakistan Administered Kashmir.
STATE DISASTER MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY (SDMA)
Introduction
State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) is the statutory body mandated to act as leading agency in disaster management, its mitigation and preparedness in Azad Jammu & Kashmir. Azad Jammu & Kashmir is highly prone to multiple hazards and has experienced worst disasters situation due to earthquake, torrential rain/flood, landslides & avalanches in the recent past. Due to climate change, there is a visible increase in frequency of natural disasters i.e. floods, droughts, cloud burst, melting of glaciers, and landslides.
Mission
To reduce vulnerability of human life, property and the environment to natural as well as man‐made disasters through awareness, mitigation, preparedness and coordination
Vision
Enhance disaster resilience in the State of Azad Jammu & Kashmir.
Functions:
- Monitor/integrate/enforce Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) measures,
- Prepare strategies,
- Streamline institutions, pool resources, build capacity,
- Integrate monitoring standards
- Enable/establish rapid response schemes/force to reduce AJ&K’s exposure/vulnerability
- Advocate integration of DRR measures into future socio-economic development policies
