AMARC /
Pakistan Press Foundation
Joint Press
Release
Islamabad (October 9, 2010): The international
assessment mission organized by the World Association of Community Radio
Broadcasters (AMARC) and the Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF) called on the
Government of Pakistan to allow the establishment of at least 30
non-commercial flood relief radio stations through community based organistions
in the severely affected districts.
These were the key recommendations of an international
assessment mission carried out between 30 September and 10 October 2010.
The mission visited flood hit communities in Thatta District (Sindh),
Muzaffargarh District (Punjab), and Charsadda/Nowshera (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa).
The mission was supported by BHN Foundation, Radio FMYY and Friedrich Ebert
Stiftung. The international mission team included experts from UK, Japan and
Indonesia.
The principle observations and findings of the mission were
that while existing FM local radios are playing an important role in flood response,
there are gaps in provision of relevant local information in some of the
severely and moderately affected communities which are unlikely to be met on a
commercial basis. In the light of the findings the international assessment
mission recommended the establishment of flood relief radio stations in
locations not served by existing local FM radio services.
In addition the mission recommended that support be provided
to existing local FM radios to continue their vital work of providing
information and voice for flood affected communities. That could be at a
community level to capture the voices and experiences of flood hit communities
and to develop community correspondents among the affected communities. The
mission also recommended work at provincial level with media, NGO and
governmental stakeholders to raise awareness of the role of community media in
disaster response and to engage in policy dialogue.
The international assessment mission was framed by growing
international experience of community radio in humanitarian communications,
disaster response and reconstruction. Community radio stations under the
ownership, control and management of local communities and operated on a
non-commercial basis have proven to be of particular importance in
strengthening the voices and access to information of disaster affected
communities. Community radios have played a key role in disaster response in
Indonesia, Nepal, Thailand Haiti and many other countries.
Devastating
floods in Pakistan have left over
two thousand people dead and more than a million homes destroyed since the
flooding began in July 2010. The United Nations estimates that more than 20
million people have been affected by the flooding, and have described it as one of the worst humanitarian
disasters in recent human history.
-Ends-
Further information
World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters (AMARC)
Steve Buckley
AMARC President / Leader of Pakistan Floods Mission
Tel (local): 0302 2326709 (until 9 October 2010)
Tel (international): +44 7801 945037 / +44 114 2201426
Email: [log in to unmask]
Suman Basnet
AMARC Regional Coordinator / Pakistan Floods Mission
International Focal Point
Tel (AMARC Regional Office, Kathmandu) +977 5554811
Email: [log in to unmask]
Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)
Owais Aslam Ali
Secretary General
Press Centre
Shahrah Kamal Ataturk
Karachi
Pakistan
Tel: +92 21 3263-3215
Fax: +92 21 3221-7069
Email: [log in to unmask]
Web: www.pakistanpressfoundation.org