Disaster Risk Reduction

mario.tabucanon's picture

Disaster Risk Reduction Session at the 8th Global RCE Conference

The Disaster Risk Reduction session will focus on sharing of experiences on real-life situations that RCEs or members of the RCE network have learned from actual disasters and their aftermaths. The sharing of lessons learned would enable RCEs to improve and strengthen their preparedness and response capabilities. How RCEs can work together and come up with effective preparedness and response systems will be discussed. RCEs are expected to suggest collaborative action points, especially in light of and contributions to the implementation of the post-2014 Global Action Programme on ESD.

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mario.tabucanon's picture

It is a pleasure to welcome you to the Disaster Risk Reduction session at the 8th Global RCE Conference. At the conclusion of the session, we should come up with several action points that we would like to report to the plenary session.
ceehimalaya's picture

Friends, The salient points that emerged during DRR group meeting during recent 7th Asia Pacific RCE Meeting at Kitakyushu. These will come handy for the discussion during forthcoming Global RCE Conference at Nairobi. Wishing the Nairobi Meet all success. Abdhesh Gangwar, RCE Srinagar
ceehimalaya's picture

Friends, Let me also share the points that I jotted down and circulated for discussion on DRR. Regards, Abdhesh
ceehimalaya's picture

Dear RCE DRR Fraternity,
On 15 October 2013 early morning, just before the AP RCE Meeting (20-21 October 2013 at Kitakyushu, Japan) the Central Philippines was struck by a quake of 7,2 magnitude causing death of more than 100 people and huge loss to property.
Again yesterday 10 November 2013 when we are preparing for the Nairobi RCE Global Meeting, Central Philippines is hit by biggest typhoon ever (Haiyan logging 8.1 on an intensity scale of 8) taking death toll of more than 12,000 (which might be more) and bulldozing the habitations causing terrible misery and agony. On June 16-17 this year the area of operation of RCE Srinagar (the Himalayan State of Uttarakhand) got hit by flash floods leading to death toll of more than 10,000 people (official figure) and huge loss to property and infrastructure. The actual death toll is expected to be much more than the official figure.

Friends in DRR Community of RCE! Considering the frequency of disasters world over, it is high time to seriously think of DRR and preparedness. DRR needs to be an agenda on forefront, mainstreamed in all policies and plans. During the forthcoming Global RCE Meeting at Nairobi, besides having DRR a thematic area, I would suggest keeping it cross cutting and it should be discussed by all the groups. School group should talk about ‘school safety, ‘school disaster management plan’, disaster preparedness, mock drills etc. DRR needs to be put into syllabus, curriculum, and textbooks and there has to be lots of IEC extracurricular and co curricular material to help teachers and students to understand the issues and build their capacity.

Youth has an important role and responsibility. During any disaster first it is the local capacity that comes handy and works before the external help arrives. Youth needs to have good understanding and capacity built so that during any eventuality in the area they are able to help people and are the first responders. They must have capacity and proven records to have faith of the local community that in case of any contingency their local youth will rise up and handle the situation. This will boost the morale of the community and help a lot.

Biodiversity and disasters are very well linked. Biodiversity helps in preventing and mitigating disasters in many ways. The linkages between the two need to be understood and biodiversity richness and conservation needs to be linked to DRR.

I am sure DRR will catch attention and will find due place in our Nairobi RCE Global Meet and in all forthcoming meets. RCEs will have more and more engagements in the area of DRR and there are collaborative initiatives amongst RCEs at all levels, i.e. country, region and global.

Wishing safety to all and Nairobi RCE Global Meet all success, Abdhesh Gangwar
ceehimalaya's picture

Dear Mario,
Having taken keep interest in the formation and development of DRR group and not being able to attend forthcoming Nairobi RCE Global Meet I wish to place the following for discussion during Nairobi Meet. DRR Group needs to be an alert group and has to quickly respond whenever there is any disaster anywhere. DRR group of RCE I foresee a very potent and resourceful group if it pools together all its strength, capacities, learnings including those of individual RCEs, other organisations in their countries and their governments. RCE DRR group can not be a humanitarian agency that goes to work for relief and rehabilitation, however, we must after any disaster write to that country through our RCEs in that country, pool available expertise and pass on to RCEs in affected areas. Any number of people, agencies fall short to address to any disaster situation so we will not be duplicating efforts of others but strengthening them. It was strange that Philippines was struck by earthquake and soon after in Kitakyushu AP RCE Meet the RCEs of Philippines did not take interest in DRR group. This sensitivity to the issue of DRR I wish gets inculcated amongst all. I did write a short note soon after Philippines earthquake but there was no response from anywhere. DRR group has to be all the time on watch and not just during meetings and events. Though DRR has been included in RCE discussion but we are yet to make our humble beginning and see the group growing. I would like to have more exchange of emails with the person who is going to coordinate DRR group in Nairobi and contribute my bit whatever I can to see DRR group bearing desired fruits.
Regards, Abdhesh Gangwar

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