Cape Town, South Africa: International day for disaster reduction 2013

The City of Cape Town’s Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman J.P. Smith, will officiate at the annual International Day for Disaster Reduction 2013, with the theme ‘Living with Disability and Disasters’.

The event brings together a number of organisations that work with the disabled to share potentially lifesaving tips to assist people living with disabilities to minimise their vulnerability during disasters. This forms part of our commitment to building a Safe and Caring City.

This event will also help to foster closer collaboration between the organisations and the City’s emergency personnel.

All media are welcome to attend.

Persons living with disabilities are often marginalised, and their plight is amplified when a disaster strikes. They are particularly vulnerable due to either a lack of mobility, impeded sight or hearing, but most of all due to the lack of preparedness to react to a disaster.

During 2012 the City of Cape Town was awarded “Role Model Status” in the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) ‘Making Cities Resilient Campaign’.

The City of Cape Town is committed to upholding this status through this event and other initiatives.

Numerous organisations such as the Orion Home for the physically and mentally disabled in Atlantis, Noluthando School for the Deaf in Khayelitsha, the Western Cape Rehab Centre for the physically disabled in Mitchells Plain, the Dominican School for Deaf Children in Wynberg, and the League of the Friends of the Blind in Grassy Park have been invited to participate in this special event.

Media enquiries: Alderman J.P. Smith, Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, City of Cape Town, Tel: +27 21 400 1311 or Cell: +27 83 675 3780, Email: [email protected]

Charlotte Powell, Head: Public Awareness and Preparedness, Disaster Risk Management Centre, City of Cape Town, Tel: 080 911 4357; Tel: +27 21 597 6000 (International Callers); Cell: +27 84 711 7710, Email: [email protected]

Wilfred Solomons-Johannes, Head: Systems Integration, Special Projects and Disaster Operations, Disaster Risk Management Centre, City of Cape Town, Tel: 080 911 HELP (4357); Tel: +27 21 597 6000 (International Callers) or Cell: +27 84 711 7709 or E-mail: [email protected] | Twitter: @wilfredsolomons