The National Center for the Coordination of Disaster Management was launched in the Saruja area with the participation of a group of international experts in disaster management under the patronage of the Ministry of Local Administration and Environment and in coordination with UNDP on 19/11/2008.The Center has four areas of cooperation in disaster management:
• The annex of the Sub-regional Cooperation among Arab countries for disaster management.
• National capacity-building project in the area of disaster reduction and management.
• The Comprehensive Program aimed at building institutional system and support for disaster management in Syria
• The National Urban Observatory recently established by the Ministry in cooperation with United Nations Development Program and in coordination with UN-HABITAT
H.E. Eng. Hilal Al Atrash, Minister of Local Administration and Environment indicated in his opening speech that the National Center is a result of successful cooperation between the Ministry and UNDP in the area of disaster management, which began six years ago in a project to build national capacity in disaster management.
Al Atrash said “this center will be a springboard towards development of work in disaster management and mitigation at various levels through research and studies as well as adopting modern methods in rehabilitation and training of cadres and fostering a culture of awareness among all segments of society”.
Ms. Zena Ali Ahmed, Resident Representative of UNDP said “The Center will be the cornerstone of support to the coordination and management of disasters and crises on the ground by providing high-level technical and operational support to government institutions and competent international organizations working in the disaster area”.
Ahmed noted that the Center has an experienced team capable of providing data and analysis of geographic information and the logistics necessary to support policy makers before, during or after a disaster.
