14 October 2009 - The International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction is celebrated worldwide on the second Wednesday of the month of October every year. The recent disasters that hit the Philippines, Samoa and Indonesia underscored the importance and urgent action to strengthen the Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) capacity for each country in the region.
How should we interpret this data?
According to the Emergency Events Database (EM-DAT) maintained by the Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters (CRED), between the years of 2000 to 2009 a total of 484 natural disasters were recorded in 11 countries in the South-East Asia alone. Malaysia was hit by 32 disasters and was ranked fifth out of the 11 countries.
Malaysia is fortunate in a sense that the scale of each disaster was not catastrophic as Cyclone Nargis that hit Myanmar in 2008. However, with signs of climate change bringing unprecedented extreme weather, it is alarming that Malaysia is potentially more vulnerable to a larger scale of disaster, or will be impacted from disasters occurring in its vicinity.
Why Disaster Risk Reduction?
Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) aims to mitigate the impact of disasters by raising awareness among the vulnerable populations. This includes reaching the masses through education, establishment of better policies, well-thought out development and enhancement and retrofitting of infrastructures. Disaster response is an action to be taken only after the country is hit by a disaster.
The involvement, participation and understanding of various stakeholders are indispensable in ensuring the success of DRR initiatives. Government officials, politicians, academics, NGOs, Community-based Organizations, and the people in the communities all must play an active role in developing and implementing DRR practices in their daily life.
Starting them young: School Preparedness Programme
MERCY Malaysia has initiated the School Preparedness Programme since 2007 to raise disaster preparedness among students. As of September 2009, 902 students and 441 teachers have participated in the programme and learned about disasters and how to prepare themselves in case of emergencies.
We are aiming to expand this programme to a wider community in collaboration with local authorities in Malaysia. In addition, MERCY Malaysia has DRR programmes in China, Indonesia, Maldives, and Myanmar in cooperation with local partners. MERCY Malaysia looks forward to working with all the stakeholders to promote DRR issues and capacity development nationwide.
Emergency Bag –the first step to Disaster Preparedness
Being vigilant and cautious is part of our daily lives, even if we are no longer aware of our safety routines. We look to our left and right before crossing the street; we cover our mouths if we are in a dusty environment, and we practice good driving habits while on the road. All these precautionary steps are taken to protect us from experiencing any mishaps or from suffering serious injuries, and have become so ingrained in us that we no longer consider them as extraordinary behaviours.
In view of potential disasters, one good practice that we can start is by preparing an emergency bag. It is a simple step to be taken, and with proper care and consideration can mean the difference between life and death.
The items that you will need are easily obtained from your surroundings in normal circumstances, and often the availability of these items is taken for granted until an emergency occurs. Items such as batteries, cutlery, phone charger, storybooks, pens and pencil are so commonplace that you would never consider packing them aside for emergencies. However, in the event of a disaster it is critical to have this bag while waiting for help, or while looking for a safe and comfortable shelter.
There are two types of emergency bags:
- Personal emergency bag
This bag is reserved for storing your necessities and is not to be shared with anyone else. In case of emergency, all you need to do is grab this bag and get yourself out of harm’s way.
The list of items you need include:
- Birth certificate, Identity Card or Passport
- Health records and medical supplies
- Towel, toothbrush, soap and one set of clothing
- Supplies of food and water to last for a minimum of 3 days
- Family Emergency Kit
This bag requires more careful planning, and must be customised according to the needs of your family members. The supplies are larger in quantity and must take unique requirements into consideration, especially if you have any family members who are elderly, disabled, or in charge of toddlers or newborns.
The amount required must be able to support the needs of your family for minimum of 3 days. The list of items you need include:
- Drinking water – a minimum of 3 litres per family member per day
- Water for cooking and washing
- Canned food, and a can opener
- Water-proof flashlight and extra batteries
- Radio and extra batteries
- First aid kit and other essential medical supplies
- Blanket
- Rain coat
- Food and powdered milk for babies
- Diapers and baby clothes, and toys
- Equipment and provisions for the elderly or disabled family member
Some important tips on coping in emergency situations:
- Keep food in a cool, dry place to avoid spoilage and decay.
- Check food quality from time to time; if it is spoiled, discard and replace with new stock. If the food supply is approaching its expiry date, consume it and replace with new stocks.
- In case of a disaster and the electricity supply is cut, consume the food in your refrigerator first as the items are perishable and will spoil quickly.
Why not have a family meeting and appoint a person in charge of the family emergency bag, or start small by preparing your own personal emergency bag, and encourage your friends and family to do the same. These are some of the preparedness measures you can start today.
MERCY Malaysia continued its partnership with The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the UN Refugee Agency, and ran 11 mobile clinics in Klang to offer primary healthcare to the stateless as well as marginalized communities.
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