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Disaster Risk Reduction International Day
To mark the 20th anniversary of its DIPECHO programme, the EU, State Security and Crisis Management Council and DIPECHO partners organised a ceremony on 13 October coinciding with International Disaster Risk Reduction Day. The ceremony took place at the “EXPO Georgia”.Representatives from international and local organizations participated, including representatives of the authorities of Georgia the Emergency Management Agency under the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Education and Science, the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs, the Ministry of Labour and Health and Social Affairs.
The event participants had a chance to see the exhibitions on programme work and some performances delivered from the DIPECHO programme partner organizations: Oxfam (its implementing partners: Bridge Innovation and Development, Black Sea Eco-Academy), the Danish Red Cross (implementing partner Georgian Red Cross Society), Save the Children, and Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund Deutschland (ASB). 'Saving lives and livelihoods by preparing for natural disaster' has been the core principle of the European Commission's disaster preparedness programme "DIPECHO" since 1996.
"We are happy to contribute to the DIPECHO programme for 20 years that helps to prepare people to natural disasters and increase their resilience to emergencies. Disaster preparedness and recovery are essential to saving lives", said Juha Auvinen, Head of Unit of the Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations
The fourth phase of the programme to "Improve Resilience of Communities and Institutions in the South Caucasus” started in Spring 2016. The programme aims at increasing resilience and reducing the vulnerability of communities and local institutions in areas prone to natural hazards, with a special emphasis on children, women and youth. It hopes to boost the local capacities of communities to better prepare for and respond to disasters. In addition it will further develop disaster management and risk reduction in education and national security planning. The programme is implemented in close coordination with the government of Georgia as well as regional and local authorities to encourage the development of DRR policies and legislation for disaster risk reduction and sustainable programme interventions.
