Step up Nigeria
Disasters and emergencies have varying impact on communities depending on the level of poverty, number of people vulnerable to the emergency and the available infrastructure and systems for control and protection. The major natural emergencies in Nigeria today are those related to floods and droughts and both are water-related disasters. It is only when these natural emergencies are either poorly managed or as a result of extreme hydrological events that they could escalate to disasters. Climate change has further complicated understanding of these phenomena. There is however scientific evidence that the effect of climate change has made droughts and floods to become more recurrent.
Recent flood and other disasters in Nigeria demands for immediate and short-term reaction where international best practices, guidelines and capacity-building mechanisms would be created that take into account both community level vulnerability and representations from all stakeholders. We need to act now and invest wisely to substantially reduce disaster risk and improve communities’ resilience to disaster.
IDDR 2011
The United Nations has declared October 13, 2011 as the International Day for Disaster Reduction (IDDR) and has tagged the 2011 event ‘Children and Young People as Partners in Disaster Risk Reduction.’ The IDDR is also called Step Up.
The Global Network for Disaster Risk Reduction [GNDR] and the African Youth Movement [AYM] will be involved in series of awareness event involving young people as part of Step UP Nigeria. They will be delighted to have your presence on October 13, 2011 at Famaks International School, (Plot 8 Adekunle Fajuyi Close, Asokoro, Abuja) at 10.30am prompt and Deo Gratis International School (Plot 15, Kaltungo Street, Garki 2, near old CBN) at 8.30am Prompt to witness as we present them with the Children’s Charter on Disaster Risk Reduction and also introduce the broad topic of disaster risk reduction to them in videos and brief documentaries.
The African Youth Movement has been recognised by the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction as her network partner.
The IDDR will provide a forum for all stakeholders especially Children and Youth and leaders at all levels to brainstorm on international best practices such as Views from the Frontline, to help formulate programs and guidelines for disaster risk reduction and management in Nigeria. In particular the initiative will specifically:
- Undertake Children & Gender-differentiated localised risk assessments of vulnerable communities and gather local knowledge and capacities from the Children and Youth with the aim of adopting the Views from the Frontline and the Children’s Charter on Disaster
Risk Reduction.