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The International Symposium on Disaster Relief Capacity Building organised by China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation (CFPA) and sponsored by Islamic Relief Worldwide was held from July 4th to July 6th. The objective of this symposium is to incorporate the Sphere Project into China's disaster relief efforts; to introduce the Sphere handbook of 2004 version to the Chinese officials dedicated into disaster relief and officials/professionals from international NGOs which also focus on disaster relief projects; to create a dialogue among the local governments and NGOs, and between the local NGOs and international NGOs, to share their experience and actions; and also to build up a broad network among NGOs and local governments for the rapid response and effectiveness of relief action.
 Professionals and experts are Director of the State Council of Poverty Alleviation Office, Executive Director Department of Disaster and Social Relief of Ministry of Civil Affairs, Vice-president of CFPA, consultant of UN/ISDR, professor of Tsing Hua University, Sphere consultant of Mercy Corps, Doctor of IFRC, to professionals from international and domestic NGOs, such as Islamic Relief, Red Cross of China and the Salvation Army, etc.
Representatives from 14 provinces/cities/counties in disaster-prone regions and 11 international and domestic NGOs attended the symposium. Provinces like Hunan, Jiangxi, Liaoning, Heilongjiang, Anhui, Guangxi, etc. NGOs like Islamic Relief, China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation, Red Cross of China, the Salvation Army,Oxfam, IFRC, World Vision, Actionaid and Medicins Sans Frontieres, etc.  Topics cover: China Natural Disasters and Disaster Response and Relief System; The Role of NGO in Disaster Relief Area (The Reflection on Humanitarian Assistance); International Disaster Relief Response Mechanisms; Disaster, Poverty, Self-relief and Relief in Transition Period of China; Introduction to Sphere Project (background & objectives, evolution, and principles); Minimum Standards to All Sectors; Minimum Standards in Sheltering and Non-food Items or in Food Aid; Minimum Standards in Health and Water, Sanitation Standards; Islamic Relief Worldwide’s Experiences in Disaster Relief and Poverty Alleviation;Mercy Corps’s Experience and Challenges in International Disaster Relief; Red Cross of China’s Role in Disaster Relief in China; Salvation Army’s Experience in South East Asia Tsunami Response, etc. The Impact of the Symposium: The Executive Director of Disaster Relief and Social Affairs of Ministry of Civil Affairs gave a very high comment for the symposium, that is, it is the beginning of the local and international NGOs and the government and the NGOs in disaster relief capacity building. In addition, all the participants expressed that this kind of international symposium is of great significance, and expects CFPA to continue its efforts in leading the training program. Some international NGOs, such as Oxfam, proposes to hold a similar training in local area, aiming at the officials from Bureau of Civil Affairs of provincial and city level. Based on this, Islamic Relief has proposed to consider about future training programs. 
From left to right: Syed Abdul Razak (IR), Wen Huifang (CFPA), Shamsa Hussain(IR), Ma Chengxiang (IR), Zhang Chi (Mercy Corps), Michelle Rebosio(MC),Hakan Sandbladh (IFRC), Alistair Henley (IFRC), Qin Wei (CFPA)
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