Risk Wise

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bourhood head, who is official chairman of the NDC, and three other

members (and their alternates), who are elected by the volunteers

from their ranks. Elected committee members assume responsibility

for three main functions: volunteer coordination, logistics and the

assessment of risks and damages. NDVs become involved in aware-

ness building campaigns, school programmes and other public

service activities, while seeking to mobilize local support for their

mission. Today women account for 42-45% among the volunteers.

Women have a strong commitment and encourage their familiy

members to participate in NDV groups as well.

NDVs are linked in several ways to the official disaster manage-

ment system. First, the neighbourhood headperson implies

government involvement in the network through his/her position as

Chairman of the NDV Committee. Second, individual volunteers

are linked to the official system through their eligibility for regis-

tration as civil defence volunteers. While the NDVs respond directly

in the event of disaster in their neighbourhood, they operate under

the coordination of the civil defence authorities as soon as the

professionals are present.

At the provincial level, NDV associations have grown out of the

need of neighbourhood volunteers to secure the status and inde-

pendence of their local groups, interact with other neighbourhood

groups and act jointly in matters of common interest. Registration is

needed for practical matters such as obtaining telephone connec-

tions, and for more complex processes such as fundraising. The

provincial or intermediate level of organization is indispensable to

facilitate the provision of support to a growing number of active NDV

groups. As the associations become stronger, they are expected to

assume an increasing share of central support functions such as:

organization of refresher and advanced training; mobilization of new

volunteer groups; monitoring of equipment; organization of joint

exercises and social activities; public relations activities; and chan-

nelling district and provincial resources to the neighbourhood

groups.

Finally, a central support organization is needed to:

• Define and uphold NDV quality standards while safeguarding

the identity and effectiveness of the NDV network

• Mobilize and allocate resources required by the NDV network

• Provide necessary follow-up support to neighbourhood NDV

groups while strengthening the capacity of provincial associa-

tions to assume an increasing share of support activities

• Plan and coordinate inter-provincial NDV activities and further

expansion of the network

• Ensure a framework for cooperation among the NDV network,

civil defence authorities, and other stakeholders.

Current status

By mid-2008, about 3000 NDVs in 68 neighbourhoods of four

Turkish provinces have completed the basic training programme,

signed a volunteer cooperation protocol, received NDV ID Cards

and are active participants in the official disaster management

system.

The NDV model has gained national and international recogni-

tion. It has been recommended for implementation in Istanbul

Province within the Istanbul Seismic Mitigation and Earthquake

Preparedness Project, which is being implemented by the province

with World Bank financing. At the same time, the European Union

is using NDV as best practice in its Volunteers and Democracy in

Emergency Management Program.

Replication of the NDV approach has already

commenced in other countries. Preparations are under-

way to launch similar projects in the Medina of Fes,

Morocco and Amman, Jordan.

Testimony from Neighbourhood Disaster Volunteer

team members

As is known, it is impossible to assign professional search and

rescue teams simultaneously in case of disasters affecting

mass geographic regions and populations. It is essential to

take preparedness measures to perform efficient search and

rescue operations in the first 72 hours of the disaster, the

‘golden hours’. We as a civil defence institution provide and

support theoretical and practical training of members of

voluntary organizations to make them prepared in the face of

disasters.

Can Avci – Head of Civil Defence Brigade of Istanbul

We experienced the 1999 earthquake. We had no training on

search and rescue operations and how to help the injured

before the earthquake. We fell into a desperate mood as we

could not help others. We now develop our knowledge and

skills thanks to training we receive in the Neighbourhood

Disaster Volunteer Project. We have now self-confidence and I

am so happy to be a part of this voluntary initiative.

Celal Kara – Neighbourhood Disaster Volunteer

The NDV group has also contributed to our friendship. We now

know each other better. We discuss what we should and can

do in order to prepare ourselves for disasters and reduce the

risk in our own neighbourhood. We produce plenty of ideas

and the group helps us to focus on those that we can use.

Banu Tarim – Neighbourhood Disaster Volunteer

Neighbourhood Disaster Volunteers play a crucial role in saving lives

Image: Neighbourhood Disaster Volunteer Foundation MAG