Historical Records of Snow Avalanche Events as Guidance for Preventive Spatial Planning and Climate Change Monitoring - Pakistan

This activity uses spatial planning simulation methods to help communities in the mountainous region of Chitral, Pakistan, reduce their vulnerability to climate-induced hazards like avalanches.

Fast facts:

Focus Pakistan has trained 22,000 volunteers in the Chitral region through awareness seminars and workshops on climate hazards;
In 2015, this activity established an early warning center in the community;
This activity has provided 20 satellite phones to hazard-prone villages for search and rescue operations. The phones also allow villages to be informed about weather conditions.

The problem

Pakistan has a history of severe weather events like avalanches, which are difficult to predict. An average of 39 fatalities were reported annually from 2005-2014. Avalanches have a negative impact on property and infrastructure in mountainous areas, and also often affect tourism.

The solution

FOCUS Humanitarian Assistance Pakistan has developed an avalanche simulation application based on digital elevation models, coupled with vulnerabilities from the Hazard Vulnerability Risk Assessment Geodatabase. FOCUS Pakistan also has a historical database of snow cover information and avalanche events. The application provides an intuitive interface and rapidly accurate avalanche simulation scenarios. It generates early warning alerts for communities and other stakeholders. Snow avalanche simulation modeling enables FOCUS Pakistan search and rescue teams and disaster assessment response teams to evacuate people from hazardous zones of mountainous area of Chitral region Pakistan. This activity has also developed community based disaster risk management plans and identified safe shelters.

Helping the planet

This activity enhances awareness about disasters worsened by the effects of climate change.

Helping people

Disaster hazards include floods, flash floods, debris flow and landslides. This activity creates resilient communities through disaster response training, awareness-raising and preparedness measures, including the establishment of stockpiles in some of the most remote areas. The overall objective of FOCUS Pakistan’s efforts is to reduce communities’ dependency on external help, by building capacity at the local level.

Scaling Up

The activity can be carried out in any mountainous community in disaster-prone areas. The activity uses comprehensive methodology and scenarios based on the collaboration of community members.