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Tsunami
two years on: global investment in risk reduction must be more than
doubled 27 November 2006 Governments, aid agencies and humanitarian actors must spend twice as much on disaster preparedness activities that could save millions of lives, says the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. Almost two years on from the devastating Indian Ocean tsunami, risk reduction remains low on the international agenda despite encouraging progress in tsunami-affected regions themselves. “The tsunami lesson must be learned. Risk reduction must become a high priority in all disaster-prone areas,” said Johan Schaar, the International Federation’s special representative for the tsunami operation, speaking from Jakarta. According to the International Federation, current global spending on disaster preparedness is currently around four per cent of the US$ 10 billion spent annually on humanitarian aid. But this must rise to ten per cent to protect the lives of people in vulnerable communities. US$ 1 spent on prevention, says the International Federation, can save up to US$ 10 on recovery. Risk reduction seeks to minimize the effects of natural hazards such as landslides, earthquakes and hurricanes on communities prone to disaster. At its simplest it can mean first aid or educating school children; more complex examples include coastal protection, earthquake-safe construction and urban planning. The Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) recently launched an Aceh-wide radio network to transmit government early warnings to vulnerable communities. According to Red Cross volunteer Felly Ankida, this network is of vital importance in a country as disaster-prone as Indonesia. “This kind of early warning system is something that the Red Cross in Aceh never had before. Now branches are just a radio call away, especially in times of disaster.” Other examples of disaster preparedness in the tsunami region include coastal communities in Sri Lanka receiving water safety training from Red Cross volunteers, and the construction of two-story refuges to provide shelter from sea surges and flooding in the low-lying Maldives. Risk reduction is an important and inseparable part of all Red Cross Red Crescent recovery operations. “We are seeing risk reduction initiatives beginning to take shape across the tsunami region. Now we must ensure that this focus is extended to people living in vulnerable communities around the world,” concluded Schaar. Two years after the tsunami the Red Cross Red Crescent – national societies and the International Federation - has helped more than 1.7 million tsunami survivors take significant steps along the road to recovery, building thousands of houses and transitional shelters, health centres, schools and community meeting places, as well as improving access to health care and supporting people to rebuild their livelihoods and to deal with the emotional scars of the tsunami. For further information, or to set up interviews, please contact: In Jakarta (Indonesia): John Sparrow, Information Coordinator, Tel: + 62 811 158 613 In Colombo (Sri Lanka): Patrick Fuller, Communications Coordinator, Tel +94 773 502 154 In Geneva (Switerland): Matthew Cochrane, Tsunami Operations Media Officer Tel. + 41 79 308 9804 / +41 22 730 4426 The Geneva-based International Federation promotes the humanitarian activities of 185 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies among vulnerable people. By coordinating international disaster relief and encouraging development support, it seeks to prevent and alleviate human suffering. The Federation, National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross together, constitute the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. © International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies |
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