Ghana: Education is key to disaster risk reduction – UNU Vice Rector

Disaster risk management preparedness efforts should include education at different levels on risks prevention, coping and adaptation strategies, reports Citi FM Online. The article summarizes Prof. Rhyner's presentation on “Future Challenges to Risk Management” at a seminar organized by the United Nations University Institute for Natural Resources in Africa (UNU-INRA), in Accra, Ghana. Prof. Rhyner is the Vice Rector of the United Nations University in Europe and Director of Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS).

“Disaster risk coping strategies often include alternative sources of income, evacuation, migration and reliance on aid and social networks but research from various case studies have proven that these coping strategies are not adequate to avoid loss and damage, hence the need to complement current efforts with new strategies,” said Prof. Rhyner. With specific reference to the Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA), the article cites Prof. Rhyner's emphasis of the need for preparedness, including knowledge creation and dissemination to break values and beliefs that inhibit disaster risk reduction communication efforts.