FPAI Nagaland observes Disaster Risk Reduction Day

DIMAPUR — Nagaland branch of the Family Planning Association of India (FPAI) observed ‘International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction’ (IDDRR) with young people at Holy Family Higher Secondary School in Kohima on Wednesday.

Speaking at the programme, FPAI general manager, V Vincent Belho, stated that IDDRR is observed globally every year on October 13 to highlight the importance of reducing disaster risks and promoting resilience in communities worldwide. He has stressed the need to build a disaster resilient young people’s movement in Nagaland and northeast India, where the region is vulnerable to natural hazards like landslides, earthquakes and floods.  

He also underlined the necessity to understand the risks like geographical vulnerability and impact of climate change and emphasised the role of young people in disaster risk reduction by becoming change-makers. He has advised to use technology for early warnings and also use social media responsibly to share verified information during disasters. 

He also shared the need for inclusive disaster risk reduction and advocacy for inclusive strategies that involve people from marginalised communities including women, people with disabilities, who may face greater challenges during disasters. 

Vingosanuo Khatso, programme officer of FPA India, stated that disaster risk reduction is a matter of identifying the risks, reducing those risks to make communities safer and being ready with a plan and knowing what to do when disaster and emergency hits. 

It stated that young people also joined in the disaster preparedness plan exercise to create an emergency plan, building emergency kit.

The programme concluded with a call to stay informed, practices emergency drills, knowing the risks and getting involved. 

Meanwhile, the principal of Holy Family Higher Secondary School, Ashikho Boso, thanked the FPA team for bringing the programme to the school and acknowledged that all young people must be educated on disasters and emergency drills to become a resilient community in the face of inevitable climate change faced by the society.