Celebration of the International Day for Disaster Reduction in Nepal

On 21-30 October 2016 the Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund (ASB) Nepal and Read Information and Resource Center (READ) together with the community resource centers and Disabled Peoples Organizations (DPOs) are joining the “Sendai Seven” campaign by launching series of inclusive-community based DRR initiatives and awareness raising campaigns across Nepal.

International Day for Disaster Reduction (IDDR), celebrated every year on October 13th, promotes a global culture of disaster risk reduction (DRR) and resilience. Since its inception 25 years ago, the day has grown into a major global awareness event celebrated in many ways to encourage efforts to build more disaster-resilient communities and nations. This year, IDDR with the slogan “Live to Tell” marks the launch of the new "Sendai Seven" campaign, centered on the seven targets of the Sendai Framework for DRR (2015-2030) aimed at saving lives, reducing disaster losses and improving management of disaster risk.

Inclusion of people with disabilities, older persons, women and children, people living in poverty and other at-risk groups in DRR is critical for increasing the chances of survival of all persons in a community, minimizing collective damage and loss, and the creation of resilient, inclusive and equitable societies.

The “Sendai Seven” campaign is an opportunity for all, including governments, community groups, civil society organizations, private sector, international organizations and the UN to promote best practices at international, regional and national levels in reducing disaster risks and losses.

The objectives of the IDDR 2016 celebration are to increase the awareness among communities, local governments and other key stakeholders about the importance of inclusive DRR in saving lives and reducing disaster losses, as well as promote basic safety messages within the communities.

For this purpose, locally and internationally available best practices will be identified and discussed among the participants, highlighting the inclusion of persons with disabilities and other at-risk groups in DRR and community resilience building initiatives.

At the end of the event, at least 300 community people, including women, children and persons with disabilities, as well as representatives of other socially marginalized groups (e.g. Dalits, indigenous people, etc.) will be reached with basic DRR and safety messages.

The IDDR 2016 will be celebrated in 23 community libraries/ resources centers in 17 districts of Nepal.

For additional information, please contact:

Nino Gvetadze, Country Director, ASB Nepal ([email protected]; +977 98101 20969)
Padam Pariyar, Project Manager, ASB Nepal ([email protected]; +977 9841786831
Prakash Pokharel, DiDRR Project Manager, READ Nepal ([email protected]; +977 9852680455)

About ASB

The Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund Deutschland e.V. (ASB) is one of Germany’s oldest and largest social welfare organizations providing services that address the needs of the most vulnerable and at-risk communities. ASB’s Foreign Aid department focuses on Humanitarian Aid, Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), Return and Reintegration and International Samaritan Cooperation.

ASB currently has a portfolio of more than 100 relief, rehabilitation, development and disability-inclusive DRR programs in countries like Bosnia, Georgia, Haiti, Indonesia, Iraq, Kosovo, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Philippines, Serbia, Ukraine, etc.

ASB is actively involved in regional and international policy forums and has developed a strong reputation for delivering practical inclusive DRR solutions. ASB is also a co-founder of the Disability Inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction Network (DiDRRN) and is committed to better inform policy-makers and provide examples for greater inclusion in post-2015 DRR and development frameworks.

ASB established its operational presence in Nepal after the 2015 Nepal earthquakes. ASB is registered with the Social Welfare Council (SWC) since 30 September 2015 and coordinates its partner implemented “Post-Earthquake Response, Recovery, Reconstruction and Inclusive Community Resilience” program through its country office in Kathmandu.

Resilience, empowerment and inclusion are fundamental aspects of ASB’s humanitarian and development work in Nepal funded by the coalition of German relief organizations – Aktion Deutschland Hilft (ADH), as well as its own internal contributions.

About READ

Read Information and Resource Center (READ) Nepal is a non-profit and non-political social organization with a vision of building a replicable and self-sustaining model for education, economic development and social empowerment to build prosperous communities.

READ’s proven and replicable model focuses on Community Library and Resource Centers (CLRCs) as a vehicle for social and economic transformation. Combining education, enterprise and community development, since 1991, READ has been collaborating with rural communities to build these centers and seed for-profit enterprises to ensure long-term maintenance and success.

READ provides required infrastructures for the people in rural areas and focuses more on those who are under-privileged, illiterate and socially excluded. Since the 2015 Nepal earthquake, READ in collaboration with ASB, has been supporting establishment of safe and accessible community libraries and strengthening the resilience of the earthquake-affected communities through the inclusive risk awareness initiatives in the framework of the disability-inclusive disaster risk reduction (DiDRR) projects supported by ADH and German Telekom.