Natural disasters cause many casualties, damage to property, economic and social infrastructure. Disasters cannot be prevented, but they can be mitigated thanks to investments in early warning systems and on the ground analysis. By identifying those communities facing the gravest risks and strategically focusing our efforts, we can help them withstand the crisis.
As such the Red Cross is committed to promoting organisational preparedness that is able to go some way towards responding to the effects of natural hazards and improving community resilience through increased disaster risk reduction activities.
Preparing Communities to face future disasters
As a result of climate change, natural disasters are expected to be amplified in frequency and severity, thus increasing people’s vulnerability in coping with the impact of disasters. In response to this, Irish Red Cross is supporting Indonesia Red Cross and targeted communities in enhancing their capacity to mitigate and manage future disasters and other vulnerabilities by investing in strengthening the resilience of people.
The country which is predominantly mountainous has some 400 volcanos, of which 130 are active. For disaster-prone countries like Indonesia, preparedness and resilience to overcome disasters is therefore vital.
Since 2017, Irish Red Cross in partnership with Indonesia Red Cross are working with communities in the Malang district, to help people prepare better for disasters by preparing the communities we are working with for facing probable disasters. The programme also empowers community people in planning, managing and eventually coping with small scale disasters locally on their own.