International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction to be observed

ZIZ News…Oct 12, 2010 – Incorporating practices that can assist in NEMA’s efforts to mitigate against disaster, forms a major part of the observance of the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, slated for Wednesday, October 13th of this year.

The annual observation, of what most governments recognise as a critical component of disaster management, materialised as a result of the designation of the second Wednesday of October in 1989, as the International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction, by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). The designation became an annual activity during the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction, 1990 to 1999, and in 2001, the UNGA made a decision to maintain its observance, to promote a global appreciation for natural disaster reduction, which includes disaster prevention, mitigation and preparedness.

The National Emergency Management Agency, is organising awareness activities, as part of the preparedness and mitigation components of the Observance, to encourage persons to partner with their community leaders and neighbourhood organisations, so that vulnerabilities to hazards, in their own areas, can be reduced.

“The fact that storms are getting stronger and more destructive, should be of concern to every resident,” says Deputy National Disaster Coordinator, Perry Peets, “and our mitigation must promote prevention, as a means of protection, as recovery and rehabilitation, are far more costly and can only come about following disaster and destruction.”

“It is intended then,” he says, “that organised, successful efforts at community level, positively impact and support disaster mitigation, at the national level.”

The International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction Observance, will be marked here in St. Kitts and Nevis, with a radio broadcast by Ministry of National Security Advisor, Dr. Norgen Wilson. Additional activities will be promoted at a later date.