Know the warning signs: Live to tell
Given the foregoing tragic loss of lives efforts must continue to raise awareness to risk and strengthen multi-hazard early warning systems.
THE International Day for Disaster Reduction ( IDDR) is celebrated on October 13 every year. Celebrations began in 1989 after a call by the United Nations General Assembly to set aside a day to promote a culture of risk awareness and reduction of risk to disaster.
The year 2015 marked the end of the Step Up initiative which started in 2011 and focused on a different group each year. In 2011 the focus was on children and young people, in 2012 women and girls, people living with disabilities in 2013, the ageing population in 2014 and “Knowledge for Life” in 2015.
The year 2016 introduces a new era with the launch of the Sendai Seven campaign which revolves around seven targets of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Reduction ( SFDRR) which was crafted at the Third UN World Conference for Disaster Reduction held in March this year.
SFDRR seeks to reduce disaster risk and losses in lives, livelihoods and health and in the economic, social, physical, cultural and environmental assets of persons, businesses, communities and countries over the next 15 years. Seven global targets have been set as follows:
1. Substantially reduce global disaster mortality to lower the average per 100 000 between 2020-2030 compared to 2005-2015;
2. Substantially reduce the number of affected people globally to lower the average per 100 000 between 2020– 2030 compared to 2005-2015;
3. Reduce disaster eco- nomic losses in relation to global gross product by 2030;
4. Substantially reduce disaster damage to critical infrastructure and disruption of basic services such as health and education through developing their resilience by 2030;
5. Substantially increase the number of countries with national and local disaster risk reduction strategies
6. Substantially enhance international co-operation to developing countries through adequate and sustainable support to complement their national actions for implementation of this framework by 2030; and
7. Substantially increase the availability of access to multi-hazard early warning systems and disaster risk information and assessments to the people by 2030.
IDDR October 13 2016 addresses the first Sendai target which focuses on the substantial reduction of loss of life due to disaster.
It has the befitting theme “Live to Tell” accompanied by the image of a life ring or ring buoy. The life ring is a symbolic way to illustrate the need to stay afloat or buoyancy in order to avoid loss of life as a result of disaster.
It has been observed that despite advances in managing disaster risk loss of life to predictable disaster events continues to be unacceptably high. Seven hundred thousand people worldwide reportedly lost their lives to disaster in the past 10 years.
A further 1,4 million were injured, over 23 million were rendered homeless and economic losses were in excess of US$ 1,3 trillion.
In Zimbabwe exposure to preventable hazard impacts has also resulted in loss of life ranging from incidents in the home such as burns to large scale incidents like disease outbreaks, veldt fires and flooding, among others.
Statistics on diseases in 2016 from January to mid September alone show that 17 636 people were bitten by dogs and five died of rabies as result, 195 376 people contracted malaria and 189 died, 27 699 contracted dysentery and 53 died.
On the road traffic accident front records indicate that there were 3 959 accidents, of these 184 were fatal with 225 deaths over the period January 2015 to February 2016.
Given the foregoing tragic loss of lives efforts must continue to raise awareness to risk and strengthen multi-hazard early warning systems. Everyone in the home must know or be taught necessary measures to take to prevent accidents, common ailments and the right measures to take in case of emergency.
It is also necessary to intensify preventive programmes and to encourage those affected by disease to seek treatment early. Lessons gleaned from the past must contribute to better management of events in the future.
Adaptation to climate change must be embraced to minimise its adverse impacts.
Commemorations of IDDR 2016 in this country will seek to raise awareness of prevailing disaster risks in the country through the media to ensure access to the majority of the people across the country.
The main event has been scheduled to take place at Chinotimba township hall in Vic- toria Falls where a multi-stakeholder exhibition will be held. Residents of Victoria Falls are being encouraged to attend the exhibition which will feature survival techniques and information on how to survive various hazard impacts such as human wildlife conflict, malaria, drowning, and first aid for common ailments, among others.
The month of October is not only significant for commemorations of IDDR but also that it is very hot and sunny and marks the start of the rainfall season. Knowledge and awareness of hazards and risks related to the rainfall season must be continually updated.
In case of thunderstorms and lightning avoid going outdoors, keep away from metal objects, isolated trees, windows, electrical equipment, do not take a bath, or shower or wash dishes and avoid being the tallest object!
In case of strong winds, shelter in a house with the strongest roof, ensure doors and windows are kept closed. Should the roof be blown off, shelter under a table or bed to protect you from injury.
In case a river is fast flowing or flooded, don’t make any attempts to cross as the risk of being swept away is high!
Let’s all make concerted efforts to find out and understand the dangers that lurk in our environs and take the necessary measures to reduce the attendant risks.
Taking heed of warnings and survival skills such as first aid, basic rescue methods, fire fighting and other skills have a direct bearing on “buoyancy” in disaster situations and thus we can LIVE TO TELL in 2016 and beyond.