In the second year of the tsunami recovery operation, as Aceh province was beginning to find its feet again, a Red Cross Red Crescent analysis of 63 villages showed that they were threatened by catastrophe on all sides.

Landslides were induced by illegal logging and irresponsible quarrying. Poorly constructed buildings, weak infrastructure, ignorance and a lack of coastal protection left communities wide open to earthquakes, tsunamis and shoreline erosion. High tides and river obstruction worsened flooding. An absence of shelters and escape routes aggravated the dangers.

These women from a community-based action team are planning secure homes and village sites as part of a training provided by Danish Red Cross in Alue Ambang, Indonesia. Photo: Vina Agustina/International Federation (p15978)

Simply rebuilding what the villages had lost was unthinkable. They would remain in harm’s way, and harm – as the 2007 earthquakes showed – was never far away. It is why disaster preparedness and risk reduction are at the core of Red Cross Red Crescent recovery operations around the world: build back better, by building safer, resilient communities.

The analysis of the 63 villages had come from community self-assessments. With Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) guidance, the villagers had sat down, mapped the hazards they face and discussed what could be done about them. A plan of action had been based upon the findings. Village contingency plans, community action teams, the development of escape routes and safe havens were among the measures taken, along with the creation of disaster calendars.

They cannot predict the earthquakes but they do know that, from December to March, serious storms can occur, and from July to September huge waves can be expected. They know the rainy season can release landslides.

A village leader looked up to the hills. “We have fields up there, and gardens,” he said. “Sometimes people want to extend their land, and plant more crops. They are not rich. You cannot blame them. But when big trees are cut, the danger of landslides increases.”

Following the risk mapping, the clearing of land had been banned where homes could be threatened. Thinking had begun to change.

As a low-lying archipelago that is 99 per cent sea and often drenched in torrential rain, it is essential that any structures built in the Maldives are safe from floods and other water-related disasters. This premise is fundamental to all Red Cross Red Crescent tsunami recovery work across the country.

All of the houses being built by the Red Cross Red Crescent meet or exceed local hazard standards. In addition, many of the houses are raised above ground level, meaning that they are resistant to flooding, a recurrent event in the Maldives. The houses also have seismic resistant structures and ceiling storages to keep items dry and safe.

Learning embroidery is one of the many activities created by women groups in the community as part of PSP in Bait village, Aceh Besar. Photo: Vina Agustina/International Federation (p16781)

Reconstruction work on some islands goes well beyond simply providing housing. Hospitals, schools and community centres are also being built by the Red Cross Red Crescent. Apart from being functional spaces for communities, many of the buildings have an additional purpose: they are often multi-storey buildings and can serve as safe havens for people in times of disasters.

An example of this is the Federation Secretariat constructed and Bahrain Red Crescent funded ‘Home for People with Special Needs’. The building stands on pillars, making it les vulnerable to high sea water levels, making it a place of refuge during disasters such as tsunamis or floods.

The design also includes a ramp, which allows people with physical disabilities to access the elevated floor. The building was completed and handed over to the management of the Home in early June and now accommodates 32 residents.

The tsunami revealed and exploited the vulnerabilities of communities’ right around the Indian Ocean. In Sri Lanka, many people died because they did not know how to swim. Even before the tsunami, treacherous currents off many beaches posed a constant threat to even the strongest of swimmers. Yet surprisingly there remains little understanding among coastal communities about basic water safety.

The Japanese Red Cross has over 40 years experience in water safety training. In June 2006, the Japanese Red Cross, in close coordination with the Gampaha branch of the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society, began a pilot project to train a network of instructors in life saving. These instructors will, in turn, be able to share their new skills and knowledge with their own families and communities.

The ultimate goal of this three year programme is for basic water-safety training and awareness to become part of the fabric of local communities.

This water safety training in Gampaha is being carried out by Gampaha branch of the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society. The objective is to provide a high level of life-saver training in order to create a network of instructors, who will then organize basic water safety training and awareness for local communities. Photo: Rukshan Ratnam/International Federation (p15935)

Risk reduction does not have to be complicated. Often the simplest solutions prove to be the best. Risk reduction is not just about building earthquake resilient houses or constructing dikes. It is also about raising awareness on disaster risks, and giving communities the tools to reduce their vulnerability.

Early warning is an important part of disaster risk reduction. But early warning needs to be about more than technology. The Red Cross Red Crescent believes that the key to successful early warning lies with the people living in high-risk areas themselves. They are the ones who must receive and then act on incoming information.

This is where the Red Cross and Red Crescent plays a critical role in disseminating early warning and safety information by mobilizing its unique global network of trusted volunteers and community members. Only then can the messages which have been transmitted from the ocean floor, the satellite and the radio airwaves travel the ‘last mile’ and have meaning for the most vulnerable.

A sign highlights a tsunami evacuation route to local residents in a housing reconstruction site in Gugop village, Pulo Aceh, Indonesia. The British Red Cross-supported project is one of the many International Federation initiatives to reduce disaster risks. Photo: Vina Augustina/International Federation (p15981)

Under the Indonesian government’s national early warning system plan, the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) is responsible for mobilizing communities in times of potential disaster. An Aceh-wide networked radio system has been installed, connecting the region’s 21 branches with Banda Aceh, and in turn with national headquarters in Jakarta. So far, about 60 PMI volunteers have been trained and certified in a ‘Operation and Maintenance of Radios’ course, and a radio operation manual has been drafted in Bahassa Indonesia.

Communites across the tsunami affected region are not just vulnerable to natrual disasters. Many of them are threatened by outbreaks of disease that can be just as devastating as floods or earthquakes.

In the Maldives, dengue fever is endemic, with an annual peak during and just after the rainy season. An outbreak of the chikungunya virus reached epidemic proportions in February 2007.

In response to these threats, the International Federation designed a programme to raise awareness about the causes of these diseases, and the simple steps that communities could take to reduce their potential impact.

Through the programme, the Red Cross Red Crescent has trained about 150 people, teaching them about the diseases, risks and prevention, as well as techniquies for helping people change their behaviours. Photo: International Federation. (p16958)

Provention and control of these diseases don’t require expensive and complicated measures. Instead, simple steps such as having clear information and elminiating places where mosquitos breed can be enough to control their spread.

Through the programme, the Red Cross Red Crescent has trained about 150 people, teaching them about the diseases, risks and prevention, as well as techniquies for helping people change their behaviours. Many of these trainers are teachers, who are now able to take the lessons back to their classrooms.

Educational posters, leaflets and presentations have also been produced and distributed to schools and communities to help the trainers deliver the important messages. The latest addition to these materials is a dengue and chikungunya colouring book to be used by schoolchildren. While colouring the pictures, children will learn how to prevent mosquitoes breeding at school and at home.

Every year the monsoon season in Sri Lanka brings misery to thousands of people who are affected by a variety of disasters such as floods, landslides and cyclonic storms. One of the priorities for the Red Cross Red Crescent tsunami recovery operation has been to create a network of Branch Disaster Response Teams (BDRTs) across hazard prone districts of the country.

“The main role of the BDRTs is to carry out needs assessments during an emergency and then lead initial Red Cross relief efforts to help affected communities in coordination with key stakeholders in government and other agencies” explains Susil Perera, executive director of disaster management with the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society.

Each BDRT is comprised of between 25-30 volunteers and staff who undergo a one week intensive training course which covers a variety of topics including Red Cross history, tracing of family members, basic search and rescue, security, pyschosocial support training, emergency health and professional codes and standards for relief. The main focus is on three core areas – relief management, coordination and needs assessment.

Each BDRT is comprised of between 25-30 volunteers and staff who undergo a one week intensive training course which covers a variety of topics. Photo: International Federation (p16947)

“We combine theory with practical simulations and field work sessions. We also invite members of the governments’ Disaster Management Centre to join the training,” explains Susil Perera. So far seven teams have been created and the plan is to have BDRTs established in 16 Red Cross district branches.

27 year old Nirumithan took part in the first BDRT training held in Ampara district branch in 2006 and has since participated in 30 deployments of the Ampara BDRT. “Some relief actions have been in response to floods, others have been to help people who have been displaced from their homes due to the conflict,” he says.

Most recently the Ampara BDRT was deployed to help evacuate people from coastal areas when the government issued a tsunami alert following the 12 September earthquake that struck off the coast of Indonesia. Between disasters, BDRTs will be involved in preparedness work such as developing contingency plans for the main types of disaster, training volunteers, and working with communities to increase their capacity to face and recover from disasters.