Georgetown: International Day for Disaster Reduction (IDDR) is observed today and to mark the event, the National Commission on Disability (NCD) in collaboration with the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) held an observance recently bringing awareness of disaster reduction and persons living with disabilities.
The focus of IDDR 2013 is on one billion people or one-fifth of the world’s population living with some form of disability. The theme for this year’s event is “Living with Disability and Disasters”.
CDC’s Director General Colonel (retired) Chabilall Ramsarup, pointed out that when disasters occur, persons living with disabilities are the most disadvantaged, and explained that IDDR will focus on how to cater for this category in a disaster.
This year’s theme is the third area focused on under the Step up initiative that was developed in 2011, and which focuses on a different group of partners every year leading up to the World Conference for Disaster Reduction in 2015.
Major Kester Craig, CDC’s Operations and Training Officer also said that persons living with disabilities are among the most excluded in society, and their plight is magnified when a disaster strikes. More often, their contribution to helping communities prepare for and respond to disasters is also often overlooked. These individuals are also the most venerable because they may not be able to respond in a timely manner during a disaster hence, special focus should be given to them.
The IDDR started in 1989 with approval of the United Nations General Assembly which views it as a means of promoting global disaster reduction, including disaster prevention, mitigation and preparedness.
