COVID-19 Emergency Response in District Bagh, Azad Jammu and Kashmir
Corona virus outbreak has embarked unprecedented devastating impacts on people all around the world. It has changed everything. At the beginning of March 2020, the World Health Organization labeled COVID – 19 as a pandemic and it is still continued to escalate. Pakistan is also one of the affected countries with COVID – 19 cases. Government of Pakistan has made a serious response to this critical disaster by closing its international borders, prohibiting large gatherings, closing schools across the country etc. All the government departments, institutions are involved in making response to it including UN and international humanitarian community. At this point of time, STAR Foundation also realized to be part of Government of Pakistan’s efforts to control this pandemic till its elimination from the country. In this regard, the activities carried out by STAR Foundation are:
i. Launched awareness raising campaign against corona virus for adopting precautionary measures.
ii. Distributed 10,000 brochures for adopting of precautionary measures against corona virus at individual and household level.
iii. Food distribution among most vulnerable and destitute families in union council Chattar No. 2 area.
iv. Carried a need assessment survey in eight union councils for immediate need of food and submitted to Department of Social Welfare District Bagh.
Empowering Communities for Improved Resilience Against Disasters
Sustainable Development And Response (STAR) Foundation is implementing a project of DRR&CCA in the project area of Chattar No. 2 district Bagh. The main objective of this project is to development of a sense of awareness among the vulnerable communities to increase the resilience against any future disaster they can face. The target communities are situating under the disaster prone areas and faced disasters of earthquake, flash flood and wind storm in the past. STAR Foundation under the captioned project implemented the activities related with communities to preparedness, response and mitigates emergency risks.
In this respect, an activity of plantation of various species like eucalyptus and kiker carried out in the month of February 2020. District Forest Office Bagh coordinated with STAR Foundation and provided 2000 plants for mitigating the risk of soil erosion as well as encourage the local communities for taking care of the environment as well. District Forest Officer lead the activity, conducted orientation sessions with local communities and students.
This initiative is also addressing the need of creating awareness and sense of taking care of local environment and climate change effects. With the support and coordination of STAR Foundation, the DFO also developed local action plan of adaptation (LAPA) with the local communities in Union Council Dharray. Another important feature of this activity was active involvement of students and youth of the local communities.
