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13 October International Day for Disaster Reduction
Annually, the lives of over 200 million people are disrupted by disasters. Unfortunately, the efforts of people worldwide who are dedicated to make their communities and societies resilient to the impact of disasters are often invisible and therefore unrecognised. Paying a tribute to them is the objective of the International Day for Disaster Reduction.
Dorcas and Disaster Reduction
Besides responding after disasters, Dorcas aims to prepare people to be ready for disasters and reduce its risks when they do occur. Dorcas partner organisations encourage local communities to address the underlying causes of disasters. In the case of drought, people are made aware of the consequences of cutting trees for the water in the ground. Besides, Dorcas helps people to become less vulnerable to disasters, for example by diversifying their income, so they can count on more than one source of income only. In addition, Dorcas trains people to be ready when a disaster does occur.
Practical risk risk reduction
To be disaster prepared, farmers can take measures such as growing drought resistant crops, reforesting their slopes or apply terracing. Other examples of disaster preparedness are drip irrigation and fuel saving stoves. The first irrigation principle makes the water reach the roots instead of evaporating. The latter reduce the fuel needed to cook, usually fire wood, and get energy out of natural waste.
Less vulnerable
Information and training are crucial in disaster risk reduction. Awaress about the causes of droughts and floods is the first step towards a long(er) term strategy to reduce disaster impact. Hazards, such as heavy rains, hurricanes or floods do not necessarily result in a disaster. It is the vulnerability towards these issues that turns hazards into real disasters.
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| Thursday, 11 October 2012 |
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