Hebron Mayor Dr. Daoud Zatari discussed the opportunity of disaster management, infrastructure enhancement as well as preventive actions regarding natural disasters with a World Bank delegation chaired by Andrea Zanon Senior Business Development Specialist in Middle East and North Africa Region who was accompanied by Sajed Anwar Disaster Risk Manager well as Iyad Rammal Senior Infrastructure specialist. The meeting was also attended by the Municipal Council Members in addition to the General Manager of Hebron Municipality Maher Owaiwi.
After welcoming the delegation, Dr. Zatari touched on the past weather episode lastly hit Hebron and spoke about the municipal mechanisms and soundly management dealt with the severe Weather episode such as the Operation Room which intended to respond to many emergency cases and providing assistance to locals according to the order of priority. Moreover, Mayor Zatari also pointed to difficulties and obstacles by Israeli Authorities faced by the Municipal Staff through cleaning snow off roads leading to the old city.
“It is to be noted that Hebron City could pass the snow test successfully without claiming any lives” Mayor added. He then promoted joint cooperation with the World Bank and lauded their management for nature disasters and snow storms in particular, stressing on the need to get benefit from their expertise.
Mr. Zanon expressed his happiness to meet with Hebron Mayor and thanked him for the warm reception and hospitality. He afterwards illustrated World Bank services in dealing with disaster cases, and underlined the need to provide assistance to Hebron Municipality including a preemptive study for the expected catastrophes.
A technical session which was attended by Municipal Staff and the General Manger was held to discuss an integrated study of the municipal elements of success well as the shortcoming and the opportunity of getting donors’ supports to ensure Hebron Municipality resilience in future.
16.1.2014