The Nagaland Branch of the Family Planning Association of India (FPA India) observed International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction (IDDRR) with young people at Holy Family Higher Secondary School, Kohima on 16th October 2024.

Speaking at the event, V. Vincent Belho, General Manager, FPA India, Nagaland Branch, said that globally, IDDRR is observed on 13th October annually to highlight the importance of reducing disaster risks and promoting resilience in communities worldwide. He added that Nagaland and North-East India where the region is vulnerable to natural hazards like landslides, earthquakes and floods, the need to build a disaster resilient young people’s movement in the face of climate change is all the more crucial.

Belho also underlined the necessity to understand the risks like geographical vulnerability and impact of climate change and emphasised on the role of young people in Disaster Risk Reduction by becoming change-makers, climate activism and community involvement, engaging in school programs and learning about evacuation procedures, basic first aid and emergency response techniques, use technology for early warnings and using social media responsibly to share verified information during disasters.

The General Manager 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.

Earlier in the program, Vingosanuo Khatso, Program Officer, FPA India, Nagaland Branch said 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.

The FPA India, Nagaland branch said in a press release that the young people also joined in the disaster preparedness plan exercise to create an emergency plan, building emergency kit and the program concluded with the essentiality to stay informed, practices emergency drills, knowing the risks and getting involved.

Ashikho Boso, Principal, Holy Family Higher Secondary School, thanked the FPA team for bringing the program 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.