DILI, 14 october 2021 (TATOLI) – The Secretary of State for Civil Protection (SSCP) together with the communities of Bahalaria-Uain in Viqueque municipality commemorated the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), aiming to raise the awareness of the local communities on disaster risk reduction and resilience.
Raising the awareness on DRR is important to increase community knowledge to take necessary preventive measures before natural disasters.
The International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction was celebrated with the theme ‘Boosting national co-operation to strengthen community resilience to natural disaster in Timor-Leste’.
“The majority of the Bahalaria-Uain communities experienced the impacts of the recent natural disasters. Thus, the government decided to commemorate this special day in Bahalaria-Uain village to raise the awareness of the communities on disaster risk management and resilience,” the State Secretary for Civil Protection, Joaquim José Gusmão dos Reis Martins told reporters, in Viqueque, on wednesday.
The government had planned to introduce mitigation and prevention actions that can be taken over the long term to reduce the risk of natural disasters.
The President of Authority of Viqueque municipality, Januario Soares ‘Boly’ thanked the government for deciding to celebrate the International Day for DRR in Viqueque.
“Every year natural disasters occur in Viqueque and today we practice disaster simulation exercises to teach communities in preparing themselves to respond to natural disasters in the future,” said Boly.
SSCP also distribute the certificate of appreciation to those communities who had been successfully completed building their house following the natural disasters.
Journalist: Vitorino Lopes da Costa
Editor: Julia Chatarina
Translation: Filomeno Martins
Editor: Nelia Borges Rosario
