UN acknowledges 8 successes in disaster risk reduction

Eight communities, including one in Bangladesh, living with the threat of floods, storms, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions were recognised as Champions of Disaster Risk Reduction by the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) on Tuesday.

"Today we mark International Day for Disaster Reduction by highlighting communities around the world that have demonstrated the ability to live with risk through their local, traditional and indigenous knowledge," said the UNISDR head, Margareta Wahlström, in a press release.

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"These communities in Bangladesh, Cameroon, Colombia, Italy, UK, Philippines, Sudan and Vanuatu are on the front line of extreme weather and seismic events.

"They all have one other thing in common and that is social cohesion which is vitally important in reducing disaster losses. Sustainable development and the eradication of poverty are not possible without such efforts to manage disaster risk," she said.

The recognition came at an event in Geneva. East Sujonkathi of Bangladesh was recognised for its engagement of children in environmental protection and recovery efforts after Cyclone Sidr.

In Cameroon, it was the residents of Nkolbikok, in the capital Yaoundé, for reducing the risk of floods and epidemics by harnessing community volunteers to clear drainage ditches and create a rubbish disposal system.

In Colombia, it was the indigenous people of Nasa, threatened by an active volcano and other hazards, for their risk management and local development initiatives; and in Italy, the Province of Potenza for its "Network of Resilience" among 100 municipalities cooperating on earthquake safety and other initiatives.

In the UK, it was East Salford for multiple initiatives against the risk of flooding and for involving both youth and older persons; the Philippines -- the Ifugao tribe for putting their traditional knowledge to work in protecting the environment and the 2,000 year rice terraces of the Cordilleras, a UNESCO world heritage site; Sudan -- the people of Tuti Island live in harmony with the river Nile and their traditional systems of flood warnings have ensured little or no loss of life in major flood events; and Vanuatu -- the value of traditional cyclone shelters and other buildings proved their worth when the archipelago was hit earlier this year by Category 5 Cyclone Pam.