These disasters not only brought death and destruction, they did so disproportionately to the poor and marginalized. It will also highlight approaches for engaging local communities and indigenous peoples in implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction agreed to by all United Nations member states in March 2015.
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An awareness rally by students on disaster reduction was flagged off by Collector Sajjansingh R. Chavan here on Tuesday.To mark the worldwide Day for Disaster Reduction, the rally was flagged off from SLB Government Higher School.
Home minister Dawa Gyeltshen said IDDR is a day to observe how people and communities are reducing their exposure to disasters.
There is a dire need to encourage citizens and governments to become aware and take steps towards disaster-resilient communities and nations. It is also meant to raise awareness about the use of traditional, indigenous and local knowledge and practices; to complement scientific knowledge in disaster risk management.
He urged the National Disaster Management Agency and all related sector bodies or partners that provide support to this institution to foster more partnership with their gatekeepers of culture and tradition.
China ranks among the top 10 countries suffering from frequent, intense and unpredictable disasters, both in terms of the total number of fatalities and the economic cost. Such houses are known to be quite stable in the face of earthquakes.
Director General of Department of Disaster Management Reaz Ahmed stressed the need for blending modern knowledge with traditional knowledge for effective disaster management. Even if such houses break, they do not usually result in the loss of lives. For example, the construction of specialised buildings in earthquake-prone areas can greatly reduce damage.
The global Day for Disaster Reduction is celebrated on October 13 every year.
The community of East Sujonkathi, Bangladesh, was recognised as a champion of disaster risk reduction for its engagement of children in environmental protection and recovery efforts after Cyclone Sidr.
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Citing Comprehensive Disaster Management Programme (CDMP) statistics, the secretary said there are 72,000 vulnerable buildings like Rana Plaza, adding that he attempted to demolish such buildings but failed because of legal complications.
