ICLEI: Today - 13 October 2011 - is international day for disaster reduction!
ICLEI, as a key partner to UNISDR’s ‘Making Cities Resilient’ campaign, is celebrating the International Day for Disaster Reduction. The 2011 theme is “Step up to Disaster Risk Reduction!" to show that risk reduction matters.
We care about Disaster Risk Reduction day and have expressed this by taking pictures with colleagues in our office – making a little ‘roof’ over our head to signal to the world that we want to be RESILIENT to DISASTER on this very special day.
Show how you are stepping up to Disaster Risk Reduction by uploading your picture on Flickr, add a video to YouTube, Twitter about it – and tag everything #ICLEI #iddr11
ICLEI Member cities have been stepping up as well:
• Dhaka, Bangladesh is one of the most vulnerable cities to disasters as it is exposed to earthquakes, storms, floods, droughts and sea level rise. Local communities, particularly those most vulnerable to natural hazards, are being helped by people-centered early warning systems. The government will therefore provide early warnings for cyclones and floods via sending a text message to the mobile phones of its citizens.
Mobile phones have been identified as an effective medium for disaster risk reduction in Bangladesh since the number of people using mobile phones in rural areas - where the most vulnerable group lives - of the country is increasing.
• Sendai City, Japan hit hardest by the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami in March this year, is doubling its efforts in reducing disaster risk. For the flood events, local governments have more responsibility and universities are getting involved as well.
Hit by disasters every year, Japan is one of the most well prepared nations to deal with earthquakes, flooding and tsunamis, with early warning systems, hazard maps, disaster response equipment and centers already in place. However, as the scale and magnitude of disasters rise, more work is needed to lessen their casualties and damages.
• Quezon City, Philippines organized a poster drawing contest for children as they are among the most vulnerable sectors during disaster events. However, also they have the capacity to take active part in disaster preparedness.
'Apoy, Bagyo, Kalamidad: Dibuhong Pambata' (ABKD) – Fire, typhoon, calamity: Kids Drawing – 2011, is an annual and nation-wide poster-making contest for children ages 7-12 years old. Citizens' Distaster Response Center (CDRC) conceptualized ABKD in 1996 as an activity to promote disaster preparedness.