Coastal hazard early warning systems in Pakistan: Gap analysis
This study underlines the extent of the challenges of alerting local people in Pakistan to the danger of any incoming tsunami, including limited telecommunication systems. The document provides an analysis of the limitations of early warning dissemination systems in the coastal belt of Pakistan and investigates opportunities for strengthening them. In addition, it highlights the vulnerability of coastal communities in the face of natural hazards such as tsunamis and cyclones, due to their isolation, the limitations of communications infrastructure and limited awareness and preparedness of local authorities. The purpose of the report is to share research results, to contribute to public debate and to invite feedback on development and humanitarian policy and practice.
The report is based on field surveys carried out in 10 selected villages in four coastal districts in Sindh and Balochistan provinces, including focus group discussions, household surveys and informal interactions with community members and other important stakeholders in each community, together with a literature review of the capacities and disaster management protocols of key authorities. The following recommendations are made to help strengthen the early warning dissemination system for coastal hazards in Pakistan:
- Technical solutions
- Taking into account its capacity for a quick response and its reliability, the best solution for Phirt Creek, Tippun Creek, Khobar Creek, Bhori Creek, Misri Jatt village, Haji Yousuf Goth and Goth Ramzan Sheikhwould be a wireless-operated mass notification system.
- If budgetary constraints preclude this, the next best solution would be to use local radio channels to broadcast warnings, backed up by notification in person, with capacity-building measures undertaken in target communities, including training and media.
- For the villages of Sirki and Sonth, the best solution would be a satellite-activated mass notification system; as a second option, satellite phones are recommended for mass notification.
- Delineate responsibilities
- Map the presence on the ground and resources of all relevant agencies (including security forces) and to develop SOPs that define their roles and responsibilities in an emergency, based on their existing resources for effective dissemination of information.
- Train communities on
- detection of early warning via natural signs, such as abnormal behaviour of animals, etc.;
- basic emergency response, especially how and where to evacuate to;
- understanding bulletins issued by the PMD and the DDMAs;
- different categories of threat and how they should respond to them.
- Communicate early warning in local languages
- Training for media outlets
- Train broadcasters on how to communicate early warnings so that panic can be avoided.
- Land use management
- Establish a land use management system that disseminates knowledge on land use along the coastal belt and discourages further settlement in remote locations that cannot be easily accessed, especially in emergencies.
- Research
- Investigate which areas are vulnerable and to assess the potential extent of damage, based on extrapolations of historically available data.