On the occasion of the International Day for Disaster Reduction 2018 held on 13 October 2018, a one day refresher course on Community Disaster Response Programme (CDRP) was conducted for volunteers in two villages in Mauritius, in the presence of Honourable Minister of Social Security, National Solidarity, and Environment and Sustainable Development:
- 20 volunteers of the Community Disaster Response Team of Bel Ombre village located in the coastal region prone to cyclones, high waves, storm surge, flooding and tsunamis
- 26 volunteers of the of Riviere du Poste, an inland village vulnerable to cyclones, flooding and flash floods
The aim of the CDRP refresher course was to enhance a culture of risk reduction within the population and build the capacity of the community to respond to emergency situations/disasters. When emergencies happen, the trained community members can provide immediate assistance to victims, give critical support to responding authorities and organise spontaneous volunteers at a disaster site. Building the capacity of the community to respond to disasters and to inculcate a culture of risk reduction within the population is among the objectives of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Centre (NDRRMC) and is in line with the Sendai Framework of Action 2015-2030.
On the same day, after the CDRP refresher course, a flood simulation exercise was carried out in the village of Bel Ombre whereby of that locality the inhabitants participated. They were also sensitized on the safety measures and actions to be taken in case of flooding.
The programme on that day ended by the issue of personal protective equipment and other equipment like First Aid kits, static and dynamic ropes and directional signage to these CDRP volunteers, so that they are better equipped to intervene in emergency situations within their regions.