ALL SMILES. Participants of the 3-day Sphere Standard Seminar taking a group photo at CAP building, Hagkol, Valencia City last May 16 to 18 2016. SUPPLIED PHOTO
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THE Valencia City Nutrition Committee conducted Sphere Minimum Standards in Disaster Preparedness and Response recently at CAP Building, Valencia City.

The Seminar was attended by the members of the City Nutrition Committee and the personnel from the City Nutrition Office. The 2-day seminar was facilitated by Speakers Mr. Selahuddin Yu Hashim, MDM, Executive Director of Empowering Solutions and Mr. Samuel A. Corado and Mr. Carren E. Reyson, Jr. of International Organization for Migration.

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The Sphere Project or Sphere was initiated in 1997 by a group of humanitarian NGOs and the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement to improve the quality of their actions during disaster response. The Sphere Philosophy was based on two core beliefs: Those people affected by disaster or conflict have a right to life with dignity and second, all steps should be taken to alleviate human suffering.

The Sphere Project framed a Humanitarian Charter and identified a set of minimum standards in key-lifesaving sectors reflected in the Sphere Handbook. The Handbook structure reflects Sphere’s aim to firmly anchor humanitarian response especially during disasters and calamities.

The participants were briefed on the core standards: Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene Promotion, Food Security and Nutrition, Shelter, Settlement and Non-Food Items and Health Action. They were also immersed on settlement standards and every agency’s accountability to the affected communities and highlighted the importance that agencies should ensure that their actions do not bring further harm to affected population.

“Relief and Recovery efforts must also consider future hazards and vulnerabilities in order to build communities back safer while promoting stronger resilience,” Mr. Selahuddin Yu Hashim, MDM said.

Participants were engrossed on group presentations, Presentation Plan and Workshop Evaluation. They were also given time to recognize their agency’s role in disaster preparedness and that they should have the  capacities, knowledge, skills and attitudes in responding effectively to disasters or conflicts. (EJ MONTEBON)

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