Events & News
Caritas Malaysia enhances disaster preparedness through training
Caritas Malaysia is enhancing its capacity to respond to disasters and emergencies, as part of its ongoing mission to serve vulnerable communities. In response to the increasing frequency and impact of natural disasters, particularly floods, the organisation is taking proactive measures to improve its disaster preparedness and response mechanisms.
From September 22 to 25, Caritas Malaysia organised a four-day training session focused on the Caritas Internationalis (CI) Toolkit and disaster response strategies. Supported by Caritas Asia and its fraternal member organisations, Caritas Philippines and Caritas Nepal, this training was part of the Regional Emergency Support Mechanism (RESUME) and Strengthening Humanitarian Action, Partnership and Exchange (SHAPE). Seventeen participants from eight arch/ dioceses attended the training, which aims to bolster Caritas Malaysia’s organisational capacity in providing humanitarian aid and disaster response.
The training was facilitated by Arpana Karki, Manager of the Disaster Management Department at Caritas Nepal, and Cecilio Ava Guardian from Caritas Philippines. Both trainers brought extensive experience in emergency response and community development. Karki has been with Caritas Nepal since 2006, delivering aid to crisisaffected communities, while Ava has been actively involved in the Community of Practice and the RESUM initiative under Caritas Asia.
A significant outcome of the training was the groundwork for establishing a Disaster Response Committee at both the diocesan and national levels. This committee will play a vital role in coordinating and streamlining disaster response efforts throughout Malaysia. Its mandate will include improving preparedness, enhancing strategic planning, and ensuring a swift and coordinated response during emergencies. Discussions during the training helped participants shape the committee’s structure and operational framework, allowing them to identify key priorities and action points to address recurring disasters like floods.
The training programme covered essential topics in disaster management and humanitarian aid, providing participants with a comprehensive understanding of key concepts. Key areas of focus included humanitarian principles, rapid needs assessments, emergency operations centres, volunteer management, and safe programming. Participants learned about ethical standards guiding humanitarian efforts, techniques for quickly assessing community needs, and best practices for managing emergency coordination centres and camps.
By combining PowerPoint presentations, group work, and case studies, the training encouraged hands-on exercises, allowing participants to apply their learning to realistic scenarios and share lessons from their own experiences.
At the end of the training, participants left with a robust set of tools and resources to enhance Caritas Malaysia’s disaster response capabilities. Key achievements included the establishment of the Disaster Response Committee structure, clarity on roles and responsibilities, and the development of an initial action plan for the committee’s growth. Participants also gained practical knowledge of the CI Toolkit and humanitarian standards while fostering collaboration among diocesan representatives.
In his closing address, Fr Fabian Dicom, National Director of Caritas Malaysia, emphasised that the training marks just the beginning of a larger initiative to strengthen disaster response capacity. He noted that as Malaysia continues to confront challenges posed by natural disasters, Caritas Malaysia is better positioned to respond with increased preparedness and compassion.
The committee will engage in followup activities, including additional online meetings, mentoring, and support from the Caritas network to ensure that each diocese is equipped to respond effectively to emergencies. This initiative underscores Caritas Malaysia’s commitment to building a resilient network capable of providing timely humanitarian aid to those most in need. Looking ahead, the newly formed Disaster Response Committee will refine its strategic goals and operational plans with guidance from Caritas Asia, Caritas Philippines, Caritas Nepal, and other regional Caritas members.
Source: HERALD Malaysia
Caritas Malaysia
Caritas Malaysia is the official arm of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Malaysia (CBCM) engaging in works of integral human development, charity, relief, care for creation and social services.
