BONN (October 8, 2010) – The Bonn-based aid agency CARE Germany-Luxembourg calls on the international community not only provide funding in the event of a disaster, but to assist developing countries to invest in disaster preparedness.
To mark the International Day of Disaster Reductions CARE National Director Dr. Anton Markmiller said today in Bonn: "Disaster preparedness saves lives. These include earthquake-resistant buildings, early warning systems, escape and evacuation plans, technical equipment as well as reliable information through local media.” Disaster preparedness is a long-term investment that pays off. "Every euro invested in disaster reduction saves two to ten dollars in emergency aid and reconstruction after the disaster," Markmiller says. It is important, therefore, to act preemptively rather than reactively. However, it is to be expected that the rising trends in disaster number and impact will continue. Population increase, climate change, increasing urbanization, environmental degradation and economic globalization are some of the factors that will result in increased disaster risk in the future.
The year 2010 has experienced major natural disasters such as devastating earthquakes in Haiti and Chile as well as tremendous floods in Pakistan. The poorest people were those mostly affected. "In Haiti over 230,000 people were killed in the earthquake. A tragic count that could have been averted with more stable housing construction", says Markmiller. Comparing the impact from the Haiti quake to the similar one in New Zealand from September shows that preventive measures such as earthquake-resistant architecture saves lives.
In many countries CARE is preparing people for the impacts of natural disasters. In Vietnam, for example, CARE staff helps local communities and governments to draft evacuation and flight plans, built shelters and dams, plant mangroves for storm protection and inform the population with plays and workshops on important rules of conduct. The local media are trained as they are the ones that disseminate important information in case of an emergency. Micro-insurance schemes in India prevent people from losing all their possessions after natural disasters and seed banks in Niger protect the inhabitants from the effects of drought.
Contact:
Sandra Bulling
Senior Media Officer
Tel: + 49 228 / 975 63 46
Mobil: + 49 151 / 126 27 123
Mail: [email protected]