PRESS- NOTE
BIMSTEC DISASTER MANAGEMENT EXERCISE - 2017 : CONCLUDES, TODAY
Date : 13th October 2017 Time 1630 hrs
The first Bay of Bengal Initiatives for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Corporation, Disaster Management Exercise (BIMSTEC DMEx-2017) conducted by National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) as a nodal agency with effect from October 10 to 13, 2017 in Delhi & the National Capital Region concluded today. Members of the BIMSTEC i.e Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Bhutan and Nepalparticipated in the exercise which comprised of a Table Top Exercise (TTX), Field Training Exercises (FTXs) on Earthquake and Flood and an After Action Review (AAR).
Today, debriefing and 'After Action Review' (AAR) was conducted to share the important lessons learnt which would assist the countries to augment disaster response and coordination.
During exercise various important suggestions/actions viz,Participation of women in Disaster Response Mechanism, Emphasise on psycho-social-trauma care, replication of ICS, Gender consideration during evacuation and rehabilitation, Utility of Civil Military Coordination Centre, Religious aid to motivate the affected people, Importance of maintaining Law & Order in the affected area to avoid human trafficking and other post disaster crimes were shared by the participants.
Addressing the august gathering at the valedictory session held at Hotel the Ashok, New Delhi, Hon’ble Minister of State Prime Minister Office, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pension Department of Atomic Energy and Deptt. of Space and also Minister of State (Independent Charge) for development of North Eastern region, Dr Jitendra Singh said that such exercise provides a platform for sharing the best practices, methodology and response mechanism amongst the BIMSTEC member nations in the field of disaster management. He appreciated the commendable role played by NDRF as a lead Agency in conducting this First BIMSTEC DMEx- 2017 successfully. He emphasized the need of better coordination. cooperation and sharing of best practices for effective disaster management in the region.
Sh Sanjay Kumar, Director General NDRF quoted that during the informal consultations at the BIMSTEC Leaders’s Retreat held in Goa (India) on 16th October 2016, the leaders agreed to undertake BIMSTEC Annual Disaster Management Exercise. Further, during BIMSTEC senior officials’ meeting in Kathmandu (Nepal) on 7th Feb 2017, India offered to host the first BIMSTEC Annual Disaster Management Exercise. Accordingly, the concept of first BIMSTEC DMEx was conceived and NDRF was entrusted to plan and conduct this first exercise as a lead agency. DG, NDRF thanked all the delegates & their team members for their active participation in the exercise & hoped that this Exercise would go a long way in formulating an effective disaster response mechanism among the BIMSTEC member Countries. Further he added that it is very reassuring to be a witness to the progress made by all the countries in the region towards disaster preparedness in general and disaster response, in particular.
Shri Prashant Agrawal, Joint Secretary, BIMSTEC & SAARC and Shri R K Jain, Member, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) also addressed the august gathering, appreciated the active participation of rescue teams from all the BIMSTEC member countries and thanked organisers for successful organizing of this mega event.
The four days long exercise was inaugurated by Sh. Rajnath Singh, Hon’ble Home Minister of India in New Delhi on Tuesday.
All the delegates appreciated the efforts of Govt. of India and BIMSTEC Secretariat. The delegates were impressed by the efforts of NDRF in hosting this mega event.
Issued By PR Cell, NDRF HQ, New Delhi.
