An evacuation drill being conducted in Dong Phuoc village, Vietnam.
A United Nations online survey launched today seeks
to provide insight into how to reduce risk and help persons with
disabilities around the world cope with and prepare for disaster events.
The first-ever survey of its kind, produced by the UN Office for
Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) and partners, focuses on issues such as
the ability to protect oneself and having sufficient time to evacuate
before a potential disaster. It also asks questions about knowledge,
awareness and participation in disaster management plans at national and
local level.
“The survey will focus on a major blind spot in disaster management, the needs
of the one billion or more people estimated to live with some form of
disability,” said the Special Representative of the Secretary-General
for Disaster Risk Reduction, Margareta Wahlström.
“We can expect that as many as 30 million people living with a
disability are affected during an average year by earthquakes and
weather-related hazards.”
According to UNISDR, this is the first survey of its kind and the data gathered could help Governments and international organizations put in place preparedness policies aiming to protect persons with disabilities during disasters.
“This survey has the potential to provide a very revealing insight into
how we can reduce disaster risk for people living with disabilities
which can then be included in the new global agreement on disaster risk
reduction which will be in place by 2015,” Ms. Wahlström said.
The survey results will be announced on International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction which is marked each year on October 13. In a news release, UNISDR said it is working closely with UN Enable, the Disability-inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction Network for Asia and the Pacific and other partners on implementing the survey.
Source : U.N , 29th July 2013
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