In order to promote preparedness and response capacity-building for women and vulnerable groups against natural disasters, two series of workshops have been organized in various cities of Lorestan province, Iran during November and December, 2021.
The first series of workshops (27-29 November, 2021) were organized in Khorram-Abad for the school girls, their teachers and parents, for around 65 individuals in total. In these workshops, the main natural hazards in Lorestan, their potential impacts, the basic risk reduction measures (including retrofitting non-structural elements), diagnosis maps (for determining safe and dangerous places at neighborhood levels), self-protection at the time of disaster (including DCH (Duck, Cover and Hold) measures), safe evacuation, community-based disaster management groups (CBDRM), etc. were introduced to the target groups in parallel sessions. In addition, the main challenges for women and vulnerable groups at the time of crisis were also addressed and discussed, including: distribution of especial relief items, Gender-Based Violence (GBV), common problems in emergency shelters and temporary housing, safety and security issues, etc. Then, some practical training for fire-fighting, first-aid, carrying injured persons, and installing of tents were also provided and practiced by the target groups with the assistance of relevant institutions.
The second series of training workshops were held in three cities in Lorestan province, from 14 to 16 December, 2021. In these series, the representatives of local NGOs, NDMO officials, relief agencies’ personnel (including fire brigades and Red Crescent Society, RCS), as well as relevant authorities from local governments and municipalities participated, as follows:
- Azna Workshop (by participation of 53 persons from Azna, Aligudarz, Doroud and Broujerd);
- Khorram-Abad Workshop (by participation of 75 persons from Khorram-Abad, Aleshtar, Chegini, Selseleh and Delphan);
- Pol-e Dokhtar Workshop (by participation of 60 persons from Pol-e Dokhtar, Romeshgan and Kuhdasht).
The main purpose of these workshops was to transfer knowledge and educational contents to the participants, about challenges and needs of women and vulnerable persons at the time of disasters. It is expected that after these ToTs, the participants of these workshops can play the role of trainers in their own cities and therefore, the effectiveness of this program can be multiplied. Accordingly, the necessary details about risks, vulnerabilities and hazards in Lorestan province were introduced and the main challenges of vulnerable groups in different parts of disaster management cycle (including mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery) were addressed and discussed.
These workshops were conducted as a part of a cooperation between IIEES and UNDP on a project entitled “Support to the design of temporary shelter standards and disaster preparedness and response capacity-building for women and vulnerable groups”, supported by the European Union (EU).
