Dr. Jalal Dabeek, Vice President of the National Committee for Disaster Risk Reduction, and Director of the Disaster Risk Reduction Center at An-Najah, participated in a conference that was organized by An-Najah National University on the situation the Palestinian valley of the Jordan River.

group of students from Engineering Facility visited An-Najah University’s Earth Sciences and Seismic Engineering Unit at the Urban Planning and Disaster Risk Reduction Centre, to learn about how to use the Seismic equipment (seismometers seismographs).

In the framework of its education programs to raise public awareness on risk mitigation, the Seismic Risk Mitigation Project in Palestine (SASPARM) receives groups of school students from different Palestinian schools all over West Bank. During January and February school children from Nablus, Jerusalem and Ramallah visited the Urban Planning and Risk Reduction Centre (UPRRC) at An-Najah National University and were welcomed by the center’s director Dr. Jalal Dabbeek and his team.

A course on seismic risk mitigation was held at An- Najah National University within the activities of Support Action for Strengthening Palestinian-administrated Areas capabilities for Seismic Risk Mitigation project in Palestine (SASPARM) implemented by An-Najah National University in cooperation with the European Centre for training and research in Earthquake Engineering "EUCENTRE” and the Institute for Advanced Study (IUSS) in Pavia - Italy within the "FP7" European projects.

On the 29 January 2014 Palestine adopted its first ever Seismic Building Code, in conjunction with the Urban Planning and Disaster Risk Reduction Centre (UPDRRC) at An-Najah National University (ANU), the Palestinian Engineers Association and relevant authorities in Palestine. In a collaborative effort, supported by EU partners, Palestine’s new code will ensure future buildings are both sustainable and safe.

The center of Urban Planning and Disaster Risk Reduction /Earthquakes Engineering Unit at An-Najah University and the National Agency for Disaster Risk Mitigation (NADRM), in cooperation with the local council of Beit -Anan and Ae’ed charitable society, organized a scientific day for the people of Anana, Al-Qbeiba girls school, and nearby town s and villages.

The following is a message from Margareta Wahlström, the UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction and head of UNISDR, regarding this year's International Day for Disaster Reduction (Oct 13).

During the Conference, SASPARM Coordinator Dr. Jalal Al Dabbeek had apresentaion on Seismic Risk Mitigation and SASPARM Objectives and Dissemination activities.

Time and Date: Aug 15, 2013 at 12:00 PM. Place: Project’s Coordinator office Participants: -Dr. Jalal Dabbeek, Project Coordinator -Dr. Sami Kilani, Newsletter Editor - Eng. Sami Sadder, Media Coordinator - Mr. Khalid Mufleh: PR media officer - Mr. Wala' Ajaj: Media Committee, member

The Committee for Implementing the Seismic Building Code held an extended meeting in the Engineers Association’s centre at the Professional Trade Unions Centre in the city of Al-Bira to discuss its achievements and future programs.

Within the Support Action for Strengthening Palestinian-administrated Areas capabilities for Seismic Risk Mitigation project in Palestine (SASPARM).A training course (50 hours) was offered by the Urban Planning and Disaster Risks Reduction Canter/ Earth Sciences and Seismic Engineering Unit, An-Najah National University, and the Palestinian Engineers Association on:

A seismic training course was held at An- Najah National University Withinthe activitiesofSupport Action for Strengthening Palestinian-administrated Areas capabilities for Seismic Risk Mitigation project in Palestine (SASPARM) implemented by An-Najah NationalUniversityin cooperationwith the European Centre for training and research in Earthquake Engineering "EUCENTRE” and the Institute for Advanced Study (IUSS) in Pavia - Italy within the "FP7" European projects.

A training course(48 hours) on " Fundamentals of seismic analysis and seismic design” was offered by the Urban Planning and Disaster Risks Reduction Center/ Earth Sciences and Seismic Engineering Unit, An-Najah National University, the Palestinian Engineers Association, in collaboration with European Centre for training and research in Earthquake Engineering "EUCENTRE” and The Institute for Advanced Study of Pavia -IUSS, within the Support Action for Strengthening Palestinian-administrated Areas capabilities for Seismic Risk Mitigation project in Palestine (SASPARM).

The Support Action for Strengthening Palestinian-administrated Areas capabilities for Seismic Risk Mitigation SASPARM includes conducting several training courses. One of the major parts of the project was dedicated for that. (Refer to Work Package WP3, Training and Knowledge exchange)

Date: Friday & saturday during the period 16/08-7/09/2013 Place: In the Southern part of West Bank Participants: About 27 engineers from consulting engineering offices and municipalities in the southern part of West Bank

A training course(48 hours) on " Fundamentals of seismic analysis and seismic design” was offered by the Urban Planning and Disaster Risks Reduction Center/ Earth Sciences and Seismic Engineering Unit, An-Najah National University, the Palestinian Engineers Association, in collaboration with European Centre for training and research in Earthquake Engineering "EUCENTRE” and The Institute for Advanced Study of Pavia -IUSS, within the Support Action for Strengthening Palestinian-administrated Areas capabilities for Seismic Risk Mitigation project in Palestine (SASPARM).

The Support Action for Strengthening Palestinian-administrated Areas capabilities for Seismic Risk Mitigation SASPARM includes conducting several training courses. One of the major parts of the project was dedicated for that. (Refer to Work Package WP3, Training and Knowledge exchange).

Upon coordination with the prime minister, the Urban Planning and Disaster Risk Reduction Centre (UPDRRC) at An-Najah National University organized a workshop on the methodology of Post Disaster Rapid Assessment of Damages and losses in the light of the international relevant standards. The Ministry of Local Government (MLG) followed-up the preparations for this important workshop, which was conducted on February 27th in order to attract the active participation of all concerned sectors in the next series of training sessions to be organized in partnership between UPDRRC and MLG.

Upon the initiative of and in cooperation with the Palestine Polytechnic University (PPU) Alumni Union, the Urban Planning and Disaster Risk Reduction Centre (UPDRR) of An-Najah National University (ANU), organized a workshop on Disaster Management in Palestine. The workshop, that was held on February 11th at PPU’s campus in Hebron, was attended by many stakeholders in Hebron district; PPU’s head of Board of Trustees and president, Governor of Hebron, Mayor of Hebron city, Director General of Civil Defense of West Bank, the National Committee for Disaster Risk Reduction, and several representatives of civil society organizations.

On Wednesday, November 20th, 2013, the National Agency for Disaster Risk Reduction and the Urban Planning and Disaster Risk Reduction Center-Seismic Risk Mitigation Center at An-Najah National University, with the cooperation of the Ramallah Municipality Public Library held a workshop under the title, “Earthquakes, Prediction, Risk Mitigation and Our Readiness,” in the presence of a number of intellectuals from the cultural organization Salon Ramallah.

Place: Birzeit University Date: 19/11/2013 Time: 11:00 AM -13:00 PM Lecturer: Dr. Jalal Al Dabbeek, the director of the Urban Planning and Disaster Risk Reduction Center / Earth Sciences and Seismic Engineering Unit at An -Najah University and the vice president of the National Agency for Disaster Risk Mitigation

Dr. Jalal Dabbeek, the Director of the Urban Planning and Disaster Risk Reduction Center at An-Najah University, and the Vice-President of the National Authority to Mitigate Disaster Risks participated in a workshop on the European Union and international networks’ learning projects. The workshop was held in Budapest, Hungary, under the title of “How to Step up International Cooperation to Bridge the Gap between Research and Innovation”.

The Earth Sciences and Seismic Engineering Unit (ESSEU) at An-Najah National University’s Urban Planning and Disaster Risk Reduction Center participated in the RELEMR international experts’ meeting in a workshop devoted to the seismic monitoring centers in Europe, the Arab area and the United States, and the early warning systems for tsunamis and earthquakes. This workshop was held in Spain.

On Tuesday, October 1st, 2013, under the patronage of his Excellency Prime Minister Prof. Rami Hamdallah, the Urban Planning and Disaster Risk Reduction Centre/ Earth Sciences and Seismic Engineering Centre held a workshop on Disaster Risk Mitigation in Palestine and Support Action for Strengthening Palestinian-administrated Areas capabilities for Seismic Risk Mitigation (SASPARM) project.

Within the activities of Support Action for Strengthening Palestinian-administrated Areas capabilities for Seismic Risk Mitigation project in Palestine (SASPARM) implemented by An-Najah NationalbUniversity incooperation with the European Centre for training and research in Earthquake Engineering "EUCENTRE” and the Institute for Advanced Study (IUSS) in Pavia - Italy within the "FP7" European projects, In coordination with the Ministry of Local Government, the Palestinian Journalists Association, and the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction, UNISDR.

In the framework of SASPARM project’s activities in Palestine, which is implemented by An-Najah National University in coordination with EUCENTER and the University of IUSS, Pavia-Italy, within the European FP7 projects, the Urban Planning and Disaster Risk Reduction Center -An-Najah National University, Ministry of Information, and the Palestinian Journalists Association conducted a training workshop The role of media in disaster risk mitigation

Dr.Jalal Aldabbeek presented a lecture about " Disaster Risk Mitigation in Palestine and the Urban Planning Manual.

The Urban Planning and Disaster Risk Reduction Centre (UPDRRC), in cooperation with Talae’ Al-Amal Secondary School, organised a lecture on how to mitigate the seismic risks.

group of students from Engineering Facility visited An-Najah University’s Earth Sciences and Seismic Engineering Unit at the Urban Planning and Disaster Risk Reduction Centre, to learn about how to use the Seismic equipment (seismometers seismographs).

On Tuesday 25 February the Russian Centre for Science and Culture in Bethlehem, in cooperation with the Urban Planning and Disaster Risk Reduction Centre (UPDRRC)/ Earth Sciences and Seismic Engineering held a lecture on “Disaster Risk Mitigation in Palestine”. Dr Jalal Al- Dabbeek, the Director of the UPDRRC spoke to the audience about the history of earthquakes, reason for their occurrence and impact in relation to public safety.

Dr. Jalal Dabeek, the Director of the Urban Planning and Disaster Risk Reduction Center’s Seismic Risk Mitigation Center at An-Najah National University, and the Vice President of the National Authority for Disaster Risk Reduction, presented a scientific symposium that highlighted the earthquakes predicted to occur in Palestine and their risk mitigation.