Executive Summary:

Rural Development Association -RDA and Karwan Development Foundation when implementing WASH
project funded by Danish Muslim Aid in District Tharparkar, fire incident cases reported day by day since
May 2017 to October 2017, so Rural Development Association –RDA emergency response team formed
and trained 12 Disaster Risk Management Committees in the targeted villages. The activity was carried
out to make the communities disaster resilient through proper training and providing them necessary
equipments. Under this activity 12 Village Disaster Risk Management Committee (VDMCs) were formed
in 12 villages of 06 UCs in District Tharparkar. Each VDRMC comprised on 05 male and 05 female
members. The VDRMCs were provided Disaster Risk Reduction -DRR training and provided DRR tool kits
and first Aid boxes. Due to increased incidents of village fires in Tharparkar, the training focused on
prevention, mitigation, rescue and extinguishing house fires.

As the target district is a semi-arid and water scarce area, it turns very hot during summers and several
causalities’ due to heat stroke are reported every year. Therefore, the 12 VDRMCs were also provided
training on handling heat stroke victims. First Aid training for burns and managing heat stroke patients
were also provided to the VDRMCs in the 12 villages.

The activity was carried out as fire incidents were observed with increased frequency in the district.
Disasters cause a lot of sufferings, as disaster struck communities face loss of life and their
essential means of living, including houses, food & seed stocks, livelihood resources. Disaster
preparedness can help communities reduce the risks of damages by preventing escalation of
any disaster and minimizing loss of life and livelihood. DRR is one of RDA’s & KDF prime
concerns because ‘Climate Change and DRR’ is it’s cross cutting theme for all its interventions.

About report:

The project “Ready to Respond” Disaster Risk Reduction in 12 Villages of District Tharparkar, Sindh
Pakistan” with an objective “to improve the preparedness of people to respond natural disasters
especially village fires and heat stroke incidents in 12 villages of Taluka Islamkot & Diplo District
Tharparkar was implemented in following 12 villages of District Tharparkar in the months of
September to December 2017.

S# Name of Village U/C Taluka District

1 Pirho Bheel Bapohar Islamkot Tharparkar
2 Noorani Dahli Dahli Tharparkar
3 Borli Bheel Journo Mithi Tharparkar
4 Taho Bheel Samejo Ji Dhani Bapohar Islamkot Tharparkar
5 Nathro Bheel Bapohar Islamkot Tharparkar
6 Bhatyan Ji Veri Bapohar Islamkot Tharparkar
 7 Tooh Rahimoon Bapohar Islamkot Tharparkar
8 Chaho Rahimoon Bapohar Islamkot Tharparkar
9 Bhadoor Bhadoor Diplo Tharparkar
10 Sengario Bheel Sobhyar Diplo Tharparkar
11 Meghraj Ji Veri Jhirmirio Diplo Tharparkar
12 Mori Ji Wand Malanhor Vena Mithi Tharparkar

Formation & Orientation of VDRMCs:

In order to implement the project activities, Rural Development Association -RDA field teams held
community level meetings in the villages where RDA and KDF have implemented WASH activities funded
by Danish Muslim Aid. The village communities were oriented about the DRR project objective. They
were asked to nominate at least 05 male and 05 female members who will attend the DRR training and
will be responsible for responding any disastrous situation in future. In each of the village, a 10 member
committee was formed. The VDRMCs were oriented on their responsibilities and the consents of
VDRMC members were taken for attending the training and for being ready to respond any disaster and
help the village community through coordinated efforts.

Training of 12 VDRMCs:

Each VDRMC was provided one day training on fire fighting and heat stroke management. Each training
event was interactive and used question answer technique, the participants were engaged to
brainstorm the causes and solutions to disasters especially fire incidents. Pictorial posters and signs
were used to enhance the understanding of the participants. The training also included mock drills.
Following topics were covered in each of the 12 training events.

a) Causes of fire incidents (Kitchen fires, electric short-circuit, children playing with match
sticks etc)
b) Preventive measures to avoid fire incidents (Kitchen environment should be secure, fuel
wood should be away from the stove, matches should not be in reach of children, wires
should be covered with tape etc)
c) Actions during a fire incidents-Rescue, Alarm, Contain & Extinguish the fire (Mock drills)
d) Mock drill on what to do when ones’ clothes catch fire
e) First Aid to burn injuries

The heat stroke training component included following topics:

a) Understanding sign & Symptoms and consequences of heat stroke

b) Preventive measures for heat stroke
c) Mock drill on management of heat stroke
 Handing over fire-fighting kits and First Aid materials:

After completing the training, each of the 12 VDRMC was handed over a Fire-Fighting Kit and First Aid
materials in a box. The materials were kept at centrally located places in each village so that they are easily
accessed. The VDRMCs were made responsible to keep the materials in ready form and replace through
community contributions the expendable and out of order items. Each kit included following items and
quantities:

S# Item Quantity
1 Steel Buckets 5
2 Fire blankets 2
3 Smoke masks & Goggles 6
4 Emergency Jackets & helmets 6
5 First Aid box with materials 1
6 IEC material (pane flex posters) 6
7 IEC material poster on Heat stroke 4
8 VDRMCs member detail poster 1

Social Media links:

DRR kit distribution at village Borli Bheel,

https://www.facebook.com/rda.thar.3/media_set?set=a.165772990698230.1073741929.100017965895
758&type=3

Fire incidents at village Noorani,

https://www.facebook.com/rda.thar.3/media_set?set=a.148070872468442.1073741894.100017965895
758&type=3