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BVI CELEBRATES INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR DISASTER REDUCTION

BVI CELEBRATES INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR DISASTER REDUCTION

October 13, 20101363Views

Wednesday, October 13 – Today the Virgin Islands join countries around the world in celebrating International Day for Disaster Reduction (IDDR Day).


 
The 2010-2011 theme is “Making Cities Resilient: My City is Getting Ready”. This year’s campaign addresses issues of local governance and urban risk while drawing upon previous campaigns on safer schools and hospitals, as well as on the sustainable urbanizations principles developed in the UN-Habitat World Urban Campaign .


 
Local activities in support of IDDR Day will include a message from His Excellency, Governor Boyd McCleary to be aired on all local radio and television stations throughout the day. In addition, the Department of Disaster Management (DDM) will be presenting a special edition of its television programme Focus and a DDM radio segment, which will highlight a discussion with a panel of specialists. Panellists will include Dr. James Joyce, an Engineering Geologist and Land slide expert from the University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez and Mr. Karl Payne, a Hydrologist from the Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology (CIMH) in Barbados. Other participants of this discussion will be representatives from the Departments of Town and Country Planning, and Public Works, National Parks Trust, BVI Contractors Association and DDM.


 
Following the conclusion of this year’s campaign, the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR) expects that governments will recognise the need to prepare, reduce the risks and become resilient to disasters. For the next two years and beyond, the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR) will campaign together with its partners.


 
IDDR Day has been celebrated locally since 1989, when the United Nations General Assembly designated the second Wednesday of October International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction. The day is observed as a vehicle to promote a global culture of natural disaster reduction, including disaster prevention, mitigation and preparedness.


 
For more information on International Day for Disaster Reduction visit www.unisdr.org.