SYNOPSIS

Four members of IEM had recently undergone a 5 days course on Essentials of Humanitarian Practice conducted by the RedR organization in Malaysia. RedR was formed in the UK in 1980 and serves to provide carefully selected engineers to front line agencies in disaster relief. The speakers shall be presenting selected topics on the Humanitarian Charter and minimum standards in Humanitarian response.

Speakers will discuss the characteristics of natural disasters and conflict-induced emergencies, the requirements for an effective international response and the needs of vulnerable people in complex and challenging settings and how engineers can provide effective humanitarian assistance. For example, during an emergency or disaster, logistics may take up approximately 60-70% of Funds. Access to safe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) are required to reduce disease transmission, reduce suffering of a displaced community and saving lives. Engineers and Engineering have important roles to play in these situations.

Sphere Project’s Handbook on “Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Humanitarian Response” will be discussed with specific topics on principles of humanitarian charters, protection principles and the core standards on Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene Promotion, Food Security and Nutrition, Shelter, Settlement and Non-Food Items, and Health Action

Engineers with interest to volunteer and participate in relief work during disaster or crisis are encouraged to attend and register as pioneer in an initiative to form an IEM Relief Team.


BIODATA OF SPEAKERS

1. Ir. Ellias Saidin – Graduated in 1980 from the University of Tasmania with a Bachelor Degree in Civil Engineering. He holds a Masters Degree in Environmental Engineering from University Putra Malaysia. He is a registered Professional Engineer, Chairman of Standing Committee on Welfare & Service Matters & Sub-Committee on IEM Relief, IEM; Immediate Past President of ENSEARCH Malaysia and Member of the Malaysian Water Association (MWA) and International Rainwater Catchment Systems Association (IRCSA)

2. Ir. Sreedaran Raman – Currently attached with Department of Irrigation and Drainage Malaysia and serving IEM as a council member. He is also the Vice President of the Association of Registered Engineering Services for Disaster Relief Malaysia (RedR Malaysia).

3. Ir. Dr. Saiddi Ali Firdaus – Graduated in 1999 with a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering from University Technology Malaysia. He completed Masters Degree of Mechanical Engineering from UTM in 2006 and Phd. from University of Loughborough, UK. Currently he is a Senior Lecturer in Engineering Faculty of National Defence University of Malaysia. He is an IEM Corporate Member and member of IOA (Institute of Acoustics, UK).

4. Mr. Mohd Fauzi Othman Grad.IEM – Graduated in 2011 from the Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) with a Bachelors of Engineering (Electrical). He also hold a Diploma in Electrical Engineering with Education from Kolej Universiti Teknologi Tun Hussein Onn (KUiTTHO) in 2002. He is currently a lecturer at Department of Electrical Engineering, Politeknik Sultan Azlan Shah.