Disaster Mitigation Meet of SAARC countrie's begins in capital, New Delhi

Highlights:

• Disaster Mitigation conference of member counties of South Asian Association on Regional Cooperation (SAARC) has begun in New Delhi on 3 September 2015.
• The two day conference seeks to chalk out and undertake various joint efforts on various issues related to disaster mapping and mitigation in the member nations.
• The conference is being held by keeping in mind the prevalent geo-climatic conditions as well as increased frequency of natural disaster and calamities in the SAARC region.
• It is also being held in the wake of the recent Nepal earthquake (April 2015).
• It calls for enhanced levels of preparedness and risk resilience amongst member countries.
• It also seeks collaborative action amongst member countries to deal jointly and individually in disaster situations and ensure minimal loss of lives and property.
• South Asian Annual Disaster Management Exercise (SAADMEx) India has taken the lead to begin SAADMEx, a simulation exercises on disaster management in the region.
• In this regard, India has requested all SAARC countries to participate in this exercise.
• SAADMEx aims at augmenting current levels of individual and joint preparedness of member countries in the rescue, relief and response operations during disaster situations.
• The exercise will be conducted in two phases.
• First phase is the current coordination conference which will discuss the requirements and modalities of the main exercise.
• Second phase will cover the main exercise which will be held from November 23-26, 2015 in New Delhi.
• Three components of second phase of SAADMEx are Table Top Exercise (TTx) Field Training Exercise (FTx) and After Action Review (AAR).