Preparing communities for disaster situations becomes more and more crucial in regions highly vulnerable to reoccurring natural disasters like in Pakistan: for its efforts to work with the local communities on this topic, the Malteser International field office in Muzaffarabad has now received an award from the government of the State of Jammu and Kashmir.

In October, the award of the State Disaster Management Authority was handed over to project manager Kashif Inam Yousaf Zai – a 28 year old Pakistani staff member who has worked in the disaster preparedness project since July 2008 – on the occasion of the District Disaster Awareness Week.

This event had been organized in remembrance of the fatal earthquake that shook the region in 2005.

In Kashmir an innovative earthquake warning system has been set up by Malteser International and has received many compliments for the perfect combination of innovative technology with trainings conducted for the population.