2007 |
International Day for Disaster Reduction
Wednesday 10 October |
|
Activities around the world
| Regional activities |
 |
In Africa, where DRR is a relatively new subject, 14 countries carried out DRR-related activities on the occasion of the IDDR: Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cape Verde, the Republic of Congo, Gabon, the Gambia, Ghana, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, Seychelles and South Africa. Most of these countries have ISDR National Platforms for DRR and the remaining few have some relative experience in DRR. Most of the IDDR activities focused on raising awareness on DRR in schools; others on conducting disaster preparedness drills or initiating a process for mainstreaming DRR into school curricula. Regarding activities carried out as programmes, projects or initiatives independently of the IDDR, efforts were made to mainstream DRR into school curricula or at least school activities, but only one country (Madagascar) managed to do so. Nonetheless, other countries such as Burundi, Cape Verde, Mali, Mozambique, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Tanzania have taken steps toward mainstreaming DRR into school curricula, including developing DRR textbooks, displaying DRR messages on school stationery and organizing school competitions or disaster preparedness drills. |
| |
|
|
In the Americas, where DRR has a longer history compared to Africa, the International Disaster Reduction Day (IDDR) was marked in 2006 in the following 18 countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, the United States and Venezuela. And DRR initiatives focusing on school communities - but independently of the IDDR - were taken in El Salvador, Haiti, Jamaica, Panama and Paraguay, among others. Most of the activities focused on raising awareness among school communities; others were on improving DRR knowledge and access to DRR knowledge among school students and also on developing school protection plans. As part of this effort, two regional Disaster Preparedness, European Community Humanitarian Office (ECHO) (DIPECHO) projects have been initiated in Central America to strengthen the capacities of Education Ministries and Civil Protection Departments, and to reinforce community development efforts in six local governments of Guatemala, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Honduras and Panama. Furthering this effort, a cooperative initiative was taken in which a fun and creative action plan was developed to focus children's interest directly on the theme of the Campaign; which resulted in a “Disaster Risk Reduction Begins in School Art Contest and Awareness Campaign”. It is to be noted that this particular effort was facilitated by the countries' local government authorities, which has resulted in a very successful awareness campaign. Partner organizations are DIPECHO, UNICEF, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and Plan International. The “Art Contest and Awareness Campaign” is in its final phase and will culminate in an award ceremony and press conference scheduled for the International Day for Disaster Reduction on 10 October 2007 in these countries. |
| |
|
|
In Asia and the Pacific, the IDDR was marked in the following 17 countries: Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, China, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Japan, Lao PDR, Nepal, Niue, Papua New Guinea (PNG), the Philippines, Singapore, Tajikistan, Thailand, Tuvalu and Viet Nam. DRR initiatives not linked to the IDDR but targeting school communities are under way in countries such as Iran, India, Indonesia, Nepal and the Philippines. Some activities have reached a relatively advanced stage. For instance in Iran, the “8th National Drill”, conducted under the country's “Annual School Earthquake & Safety Initiative”, covered all primary, secondary and high schools (over 130,000 schools) in 2006, joined by over 14 million school students. Some initiatives in other Asian countries are not less important. In Nepal, DRR-trained school students have become “risk reduction ambassadors”. In the Philippines, some school students managed to assess their own vulnerabilities and prepared “risk reduction plans. In India, a single programme helped some 100,000 students and 2,500 teachers in 200 schools develop school disaster management plans. Also in the region, some efforts were made to make school buildings safer, especially in earthquake-prone countries. |
| |
see more information |
| |
|
|
In Europe, a number of countries also marked the International Disaster Reduction Day, and DRR initiatives focusing on school communities have been carried out in a number of countries such as France – where one particular initiative won a trophy from the French Ministry of Ecology and Sustainable Development - and Armenia where a single few-month training project helped turn 375 school students, teachers and school principals into qualified DRR trainers. |
|
|
For more information
please contact
Tze Ming Mok
mokt@un.org
|
| Major events |
| New York, USA |
| Activities: |
Briefing Discussion on "Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction", organized by OCHA,
ISDR, and IFRC. |
| Date: |
9 October 2007 |
| Contact: |
Kenneth Westgate,
IFRC, kenneth.westgate@ifrc.org |
|
|
| Brussels, Belgium |
| Activities: |
Policy Change Dialogue: Making Your Constituencies “Disaster Proof”
In preparation for the International Day for Disaster Reduction, the UN/ISDR secretariat and the Global Legislators Organisation for a Balanced Environment (GLOBE) parliamentarians' network will co-organize a roundtable discussion entitled “Policy Change Dialogue: Making Your Constituencies 'Disaster Proof'” at the European Commission in Brussels. As emphasized by EU Environmental Commissioner Mr Stavros Dimas at the launching of a public debate on climate change-related options for EU actions, adaptation to climate change may be a matter of survival. The proposed Policy Change Dialogue seeks to link disaster risk reduction with ongoing efforts in climate change adaptation and environmental protection. The dialogue will also allow participants to discuss how disaster risk reduction can be integrated into EU policies. |
| Date: |
9 October 2007,
(from 14.00 -15.00) |
| Contact: |
Andrei Iatsenia,
UN/ISDR secretariat, Geneva iatsenia@un.org |
|
|
| Geneva,
Switzerland |
| Activities: |
Roundtable Discussion on “Disaster Risk Reduction Begins at School: Next steps for the
ISDR Biennial World Disaster Reduction Campaign 2006-2008”
To build on the gains made in the ISDR Biennial World Campaign, the UN/ISDR secretariat is organizing a roundtable discussion to review the progress made and identify further actions to facilitate the implementation of school safety and education on disaster risk reduction on the International Day for Disaster Reduction on 10 October 2007. More than 60 participants will be expected to attend, including: representatives of Member States, UN agencies, international/regional organizations, civil society; and academics and media, NGO and private sector experts involved in disaster risk reduction. The Roundtable Discussion will be followed by the UN Sasakawa Award for Disaster Reduction Ceremony. |
| Date: |
10 October 2007 |
| Contact: |
Brigitte Leoni
UN/ISDR secretariat, Geneva leonib@un.org |
|
|
| Kobe, Japan |
| Activities: |
A major awareness-raising event
The UN/ISDR secretariat, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) Human Security Unit and the Hyogo Prefecture Government, together with other partners, will co-organize a major awareness-raising event in Kobe, Japan. On the occasion of the opening of a joint photo exhibition under the theme “Human Security” - that includes a disaster risk reduction perspective, a dialogue event for public awareness will be held, moderated by Ms Charmine Koda of United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) Tokyo. Panel members will include Hyogo Governor Mr Toshizo Ido, UN/ISDR secretariat Director Mr Sálvano Briceño and Japanese actress Ms Norika Fujiwara. On the same day, the UN/ISDR secretariat will open the UN/ISDR Hyogo Office in Kobe in a ceremony held with the support of the Hyogo Prefecture Government, the Asia Disaster Reduction Center (ADRC) and other partners. |
| Date: |
14 October 2007 |
| Contact: |
Yuki Matsuoka,
UN/ISDR secretariat, Geneva matsuoka@un.org |
|
|
| Bangkok, Thailand |
| Activities: |
Jointly organised by UNESCO, UNICEF, UNCRD, UN/ISDR Asia and Pacific and with the support of UNESCAP, ASEAN, IFRC, ADRC, ADPC and Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund Deutschland (ASB) based in Indonesia, the Asia Pacific regional workshop on school education and disaster risk reduction will include a technical segment on the first two days that willl bring together Education experts and representatives from the disaster risk reduction community to review and exchange successful national and local experiences and identify major obstacles and challenges in integrating disaster risk reduction into the education sector. On the third day, which coincides with the International Day for Disaster Reduction, the conclusions of the technical discussions will be conveyed to the policy makers and representatives from Ministries of Education to jointly come up with concrete recommendations on the way to better promote school safety initiatives as well as the integration of DRR into the education sector as an essential contribution to sustainable development. Ministries of Education, Departments of Disaster Management, National Platforms, NDMOs, and relevant regional partners involved in education and disaster management related issues are expected to participate and to interact on this important issue, together with school children from disaster affected countries from the Asia and Pacific region who will share their experience and call for safer schools as well as an increased awareness on disaster risk reduction through the integration of this subject as part of school curricula. |
| Date: |
8-10 October 2007 |
| Contact: |
Christel Rose,
UN/ISDR secretariat,
Asia and The Pacific
rosec@un.org |
|
|
| Central Asia,
Tajikistan |
| Activities: |
Media activities
A number of media activities have been planned in Central Asia to mark the International Day for Disaster Reduction. The UN/ISDR secretariat “Everybody's Business” film will be broadcast on national channels and/or a TV station broadcasting for Central Asia. A number of debates and talk shows among university students will be also organized in cooperation with the Swiss Development Corporation (SDC)-supported Competence Center for Disaster Reduction (CCDR). In June 2007, the UN/ISDR launched a campaign focusing on children, published a collection of cross-word puzzles and organized a contest through the local newspaper “Aladdin”. |
| Date: |
|
| Contact: |
Goulsara Pulatova,
UN/ISDR secretariat, Dushanbe secretariat, goulsara.pulatova@undp.org |
|
|
| Central America,
Panama |
| Activities: |
Art Contest and Awareness Campaign Awards Ceremony
The UN/ISDR Panama office will organize an “Art Contest and Awareness Campaign Awards Ceremony” to mark the International Day. The Awareness Campaign seeks to sensitize about disaster risk reduction issues and empower local communities against disaster risks throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. The event will be organized by the UN/ISDR secretariat, Disaster Preparedness, European Community Humanitarian Office (DIPECHO), UNICEF, IFRC and Plan International, and followed by a press conference on 11 October 2007 in Panama City. |
| Date: |
|
| Contact: |
Margarita Vallalobos,
UN/ISDR secretariat, Panama margarita.vallalobos@eird.org |
|
| |
Country activities
| Africa |
| |
| Country: |
Burundi |
| Activities: |
Rehabilitation of one primary school located in the area. It is foreseen that the event will be attended by the Vice-President of the Republic of Burundi accompanied by the Minister for Interior and Public Security and other high-ranking authorities.The event will be accompanied by sketches played by school children that are members of the environmental clubs. Organized by UNDP and UNICEF country offices in Burundi together with the National Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction. |
| Date: |
10 October 2007 |
| Contact: |
|
 |
|
| Country: |
Namibia |
| Activities: |
8-10 October 2007 |
| Date: |
NDP Namibia is planning to air a message from the Namibia Resident Coordinator along with a release of the message from the UN Secretary General on the International Day for Disaster Reduction. On 8 October a learning session and painting competition is planned for a school in Katutura in which the Disaster Risk Management Specialist for the Office of the Resident Coordinator (UNDP) and the UNDP Communications Officer will conduct a disaster risk reduction learning session with a Grade 4 class and initiate a painting competition for the students on natural disaster reduction.On 10 October a commemoration ceremony and prize distribution is planned for the same school in Katutura. |
| Contact: |
|
|
|
| Country: |
Kweneng, Botswana |
| Activities: |
The National Disaster Management Office is planning to commemorate the International Disaster Reduction Day in one of the Districts called Kweneng, in a village called Thamaga, activities include Speech by the Honorable Minister for Presidential Affairs and Public administration, reading of General Secretary’s speech by UN representative, entertainment groups, debating and essay competitions. |
| Date: |
10 October 2007 |
| Contact: |
|
|
|
| Country: |
Cote d’Ivoire |
| Activities: |
Talk show in commemoration of the IDDR. Organized by UNDP Cote d’Ivoire together with the Ministry of Environment. |
| Date: |
10 October 2007 |
| Contact: |
|
|
|
| Country: |
Cape Verde |
| Activities: |
A national workshop for the elaboration of a contingency plan on the prevention of sea pollution will be organized in the island of Sr. Vicente. A training session to UN System Staff of Cape Verde is organized, followed by an exercise drill in Saint António. A teaching and training session for schools on self-protection measures will be carried out, followed by the distribution of T-shirts and caps. A posters exhibition in schools around the City of Praia has been organized as well as a drill exercise in one school in Praia. A documentary on school evacuation in case of earthquake, volcanic eruption and other disasters will be aired on the national television of Cape Verde. The social communication agencies are going to disseminate security advises for school children.The dissemination of a speech of the Minister of the Internal Administration to the population in Cape Verde related to school community. I a ceremony 3 mobile VHF radios are going to be handed over to the ambulances of the Hospital Grandson Augustin and the Municipal Fire Brigade of Praia. In a ceremony equipment will be delivered to the Voluntary Fire Brigade of Saint Antão (AMSA) to combat forest fire. Activities are organized by the National Service for Civil protection (SNPC) under the lead of its director, Major Alberto Carlos Fernandes Balbosa. |
| Date: |
10 October 2007 |
| Contact: |
|
|
|
| Country: |
Kenya |
| Activities: |
Talk show with various speakers on the “International Day for Disaster Reduction” to advocate for disaster risk reduction and its integration into school curricula. Further planning is a three-week football tournament for seven schools in the Ijara District in Eastern Kenya to advocate for the integration of disaster risk reduction into education. Organized by ActionAid. |
| Date: |
10 October 2007 |
| Contact: |
|
|
|
| Country: |
Vatomandry, Madagascar |
| Activities: |
The BNGRC with UNICEF will co-organize the International Day for Disaster Reduction event. One million copies of the manual for school children and the teacher's guide will be distributed. |
| Date: |
10 October |
| Contact: |
|
|
|
| Country: |
Nsanje, Malawi |
| Activities: |
Awareness raising events on Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change organized by the Department for Disasters of the Government of Malawi, Action Aid, Christian Aid, Tearfund and Churches Action in Relief and Development (CARD), CCAP Synod of Livingstonia Development Department (CCALP), Evangelical Lutheran Development Service (ELDS) and Christian Health Association of Malawi (CHAM). |
| Date: |
10 October 2007 |
| Contact: |
For more information on this event, please contact: Sarah Moss, smoss@christian-aid.org |
|
|
| Country: |
Sierra Leone |
| Activities: |
The Disaster Management Department in Sierra Leone is planning a radio broadcast in commemoration of the IDDR, inviting UN Agencies, the Commissioner of the Environment Division in Sierra Leone and school children from different schools to speak on the theme: “Disaster risk reduction begins at school”. |
| Date: |
10 October 2007 |
| Contact: |
|
|
|
| Country: |
Seychelles |
| Activities: |
The Department of Risk and Disaster Management in the Office of the President in Seychelles is organizing a children’s workshop to commemorate the Disaster Reduction Day with 5 children from each school in Seychelles, expected are 150 children. |
| Date: |
10 October 2007 |
| Contact: |
For more information, please contact: Rhea Katsanakis, rhea.katsanakis@unep.org |
|
|
| Country: |
Zambia |
| Activities: |
“a talk show in commemoration of the IDDR” besides the role of education in DRR the talk show will focus on the recurrent floods that Zambia is experiencing. Organized by The Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit in the Office of the Vice President in Lusaka. |
| Date: |
10 October 2007 |
| Contact: |
|
|
|
| |
|
| The Americas |
| |
| Country: |
Brazil |
| Activities: |
Within the International week for disaster risk reduction, 10.000 educative kits will be distributed amongst 322 schools in high risk areas. Organized by the Secretariat of the National Civil Defence (Sedec) |
| Date: |
7-13 October 2007 |
| Contact: |
For more information, please visit http://www.defesacivil.gov.br or contact Sergio José Bezerra , sergio.bezerra@integracao.gov.br |
|
|
| Country: |
New York, USA |
| Activities: |
Briefing Discussion on "Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction", organized by OCHA, ISDR, and IFRC |
| Date: |
9 October 2007 |
| Contact: |
For more information on this event please contact: Kenneth Westgate, kenneth.westgate@ifrc.org |
|
|
| Country: |
Whashignton DC, USA |
| Activities: |
Panel Discussion on “Disaster Risk Reduction: A front line defense against climate change and displacement", organized by InterAction’s Working Group on Disaster Risk Reduction and the Brookings-Bern Project on Internal Displacement. |
| Date: |
10 October 2007 |
| Contact: |
For more information on this event please contact: Molly Browning, mbrowning@brookings.edu |
|
|
| Country: |
San Marcos, Guatemala |
| Activities: |
“4 Running Competitions for Disaster Reduction”, which will be concluded with an award ceremony, organized by Action Against Hunger, Guatemala. Other activities will include: fotograph exposition on preparedness for disaster response project, TV documentary and radio programme to raise awareness on the International Day for Disaster Reduction. |
| Date: |
10 October 2007 |
| Contact: |
For more information, please contact Iván Aguilar, achsanmarcos4@intelnett.com |
|
|
| Country: |
Puerto Cortez, Honduras |
| Activities: |
Awareness activities in Schools on Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change, organized by Christian Aid and local partners. Radio broadcasting at national level, TV interviews and radio conference in San Pedro de Sula. |
| Date: |
10 October 2007 |
| Contact: |
For more information on these events, please contact Maria Tinelli, MTinelli@christian-aid.org |
|
|
| Country: |
Ciudad de Panama, Panama |
| Activities: |
Art Contest and Awareness Campaign Awards Ceremony, organized by the UN/ISDR secretariat, with support of UNICEF, IFRC, Plan International and the European Commission Humanitarian Aid Office (DIPECHO). |
| Date: |
10 October 2007 |
| Contact: |
For more information on this event, please contact: Margarita Villalobos, margarita.villalobos@eird.org |
|
|
| Country: |
Peru |
| Activities: |
National Peruvian Radio Stations Grupo Radio Programa Peru, Cadena Peruana de Noticias and Radio Nacional will have broadcast on the International Day for Disaster Reduction. Some radios will broadcast DDR information spots during the entire week. Radio Ideele produced a programme called "Más vale prevenir que lamentar" with the intention to raise awareness on the International Day for DRR. |
| Date: |
10 October 2007 |
| Contact: |
|
|
|
| Country: |
Trujillo-Peru |
| Activities: |
5,000 kits on disaster risk reduction in schools with a guidelines on contingency plan in case of an earthquake in schools will be distributed by “SOS Vidas Peru. Training for emergency response in schools in the area of Trujillo will also take place. |
| Date: |
10 October 2007 |
| Contact: |
For more information please contact: Lincoln Alayo Bernal, prevencionpe@yahoo.com |
|
|
| |
|
| Asia & the
Pacific |
| |
| Country: |
Bangkok, Thailand |
| Activities: |
Asia-Pacific Regional Workshop on School Education and Disaster Risk Reduction, organized by UNESCO, the UN Centre for Regional Development (UNCRD), UNICEF, UN/ISDR Asia and Pacific, with support of the Asian Disaster Preparedness Centre (ADPC) and the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC |
| Date: |
8-9 October 2007 |
| Contact: |
For more information on this event, please contact: Christel Rose, rosec@un.org |
|
|
| Country: |
Kobe, Japan |
| Activities: |
Opening ceremony of the new UN/ISDR Hyogo Office and a major awareness-raising event on Human Security and Disaster Risk Reduction, co-organized by the UN/ISDR secretariat, OCHA, ADRC, and the Hyogo Prefecture Government with other partners. |
| Date: |
14 October 2007 |
| Contact: |
For more information on this event, please contact: Yuki Matsuoka, matsuoka@un.org |
|
|
| Country: |
Albey, Philipinnes |
| Activities: |
Orientation workshop on Disaster Risk Reduction in Schools & Emergency Preparedness and Response Planning, organized by UNICEF and the Department of Education of the Philippines. |
| Date: |
16-18 October 2007 |
| Contact: |
For more information on this event, please contact: Ms Emily de Vera, edevera@unicef.org
|
|
|
| Country: |
Bangladesh |
| Activities: |
“A seminar on DRR”, poster and leaflet will be published, organized by The Disaster Management Bureau (DMB) in co-operatiojn with the INGO’s and National NGO’s. National School Art Competition on Disaster Risk Reduction,organized by the Government of Bangladesh together with local partners of Christian Aid and DFID. |
| Date: |
24 October 2007 |
| Contact: |
For more information on this event, please contact: Maria Tinelli, MTinelli@christian-aid.org |
|
|
| Country: |
Tajikistan |
| Activities: |
Media and public awareness activities, including the screening of the UN/ISDR-produced film “Everybody’s Business” on national TV channels and another one broadcasting for Central Asia. Debates and talkshows among university students will be organized in cooperation with the Swiss Agency for Development and Corporation (SDC) and the SDC-supported Competence Centre for Disaster Reduction (CCDR) |
| Date: |
|
| Contact: |
For more information on this event, please contact: Goulsara Pulatova,gouolsara.pulatova@undp.org |
|
|
| |
| Europe |
| |
| Country: |
Brussels, Belgium |
| Activities: |
“A Policy Change Dialogue: Making Your Constituencies Disaster Proof”, co-organized by the parliamentarians’ network known as “Global Legislators Organisation for a Balanced Environment” (GLOBE) and the UN/ISDR secretariat. |
| Date: |
9 October 2007 |
| Contact: |
For more information on this event please contact: Andrei Iatsenia, iatsenia@un.org |
|
|
| Country: |
Geneva, Switzerland |
| Activities: |
Roundtable Discussion on “Disaster Risk Reduction Begins at School: Next Steps for the UN/ISDR World Disaster Reduction Campaign 2006-2007”, organized by the UN/ISDR secretariat with partners, followed by the attribution of the UN Sasakawa Award for Disaster Reduction 2006-2007. |
| Date: |
10 October 2007 |
| Contact: |
For more information on this event, please contact: Brigitte Leoni, leonib@un.org |
|
|
| Country: |
Pahos, Cyprus |
| Activities: |
Euro-Mediterranean Workshop on Disaster Reduction at School "Building safer school Communities", organized by the Council of Europe's EUR-OPA Major Hazards Agreement, in co-operation with the Government of Cyprus and EUR-OPA's thematic group on Disaster Education and Awareness (Be-Safe-Net). |
| Date: |
29 to 30 October 2007 |
| Contact: |
For more information, please contact Mr Francesc Pla, francesc.pla@coe.int |
|
|
| Country: |
Barcelona, Spain |
| Activities: |
This event, jointly organised by the University of Barcelona and the Advisory Body for Sustainable Development of the Catalan Government (CADS), brought together representatives of the academic sector and local government institutions to discuss issues related to disaster risk reduction in the Catalonian region. The meeting was also the venue for the official launch of the RiskCat Project, a research project aimed to assess the institutional capacity of the local government of Catalonia to cope with natural hazards in the region, focusing on phenomena that most directly affect land use and planning policies.
RiskCat is a joint initiative of the University of Barcelona and CADS, but will also benefit from the opinions of experts from a number of academic and technical bodies such as the GAMA Group of the University of Barcelona, the Spanish Research Council, the LANDRISK Group of the Polytechnic University of Catalonia, and many others. Agreements and collaboration between experts involved, research groups and other bodies interested in disaster risk reduction will allow the project to recommend a series of actions and measures to adopt sustainable land policies that better address natural hazards risks in the region. |
| Date: |
4 October 2007 |
| Contact: |
For more information visit http://www.ub.es/risknat. |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
