World Civil Defense Day: Our commitment to reducing disaster risks unwavering – ICDO
By Praise Chinecherem
International Civil Defence Organization’ s (ICDO) has reaffirmed its commitment to playing its part in reducing risk of disasters and their impact throughout the world.
Secretary General, ICDO Mrs. Njoupouo Mariatou made the call on Friday during the occasion of 2024 World Civil Defense Day (WCDD) and Safe School Inauguration held at Anambra State Command Headquarters with the theme, “Honor Heroes and Promote Safety Skills”
Mariatou who was represented by the Anamba State Commandant, Maku Olatunde said the body aimed to battling disasters in part, through training and technical assistance programmes tailored to the development of national civil defense systems.
She called on key players in civil defence to invest more in development and integration of innovative technologies in all phases of disaster risk management, natural or man-made.
“The ICDO invites key players in civil defence to invest more in the development and integration of innovative technologies in all phases of disaster risk management, whether they be natural or man-made,” she said.
Mariatou regretted that 2023 was marked by disasters, including natural phenomena such as cataclysmic earthquakes and floods and severe unrest of socio-political origins causing the massive displacement of people to other countries, amongst others things.
She however appreciated those, including laypeople, amateurs, volunteers or civil defence professionals who, over the past year, have put their lives at risk to protect or save those of others.
She said, “Amidst these challenges, however, Civil defence players were active on all fronts. We still remember their presence in Turkey, Syria, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Morocco, Libya, Palestine and elsewhere.
“These momentous events in terms of the number of deaths and material damage did not, however, detract from other, more numerous events that occurred the world over and from which no community was spared.
“Whether it’s road accidents,
forest fires, landslides, hurricanes, etc., all these phenomena that result in deaths and economic losses deserve special attention because “every death in a disaster is the death of a healthy person”.
“The year 2023 ended with tens of thousands of lives lost, mainly to earthquakes, floods and human
conflicts, not to mention the inestimable damage caused to property and the environment.
“Fortunately, the active solidarity of States, both internationally and at the level of national institutions, was set in motion to save lives, alleviate suffering and restore living conditions. To achieve this, various techniques were deployed, ranging from rudimentary means to innovative
technologies, depending on the category of player and the level of intervention.
“In a context where the effects of climate change are no longer a taboo, in view of the ever increasing number and intensity of disasters and their impact on people, property and the environment, regardless of the level of affluence of communities, the International Civil Defence Organisation has recommended that as part of the celebration of World Civil Defence Day 2024, we reflect on the following subject: ” Innovative technologies at the service of Civil Defence”.
“The wide range of tools available due to these technologies means that they are accessible to everyone, on basis of their abilities. Drones, Satellites, Robots and Autonomous Vehicles, Intelligent Sensors, 3D Technology, Geographic Information Systems, the Internet of Things and
People, and Artificial Intelligence are all tools that Civil Defence players can use to predict, prevent, prepare, respond or rebuild.
“In terms of prediction, satellite technologies provide real-time data for risk monitoring; similarly, the analysis of historical disaster databases using Artificial Intelligence can help predict
emergency situations. The Internet of things and people can be used to inform, educate and raise awareness among the general public in emergency management situations.
“The power of social media in this respect is well established in terms of disseminating useful messages among the general public, which is the main focus of Civil Defence before, during and after emergency situations, in order to reduce their impact. The use of Drones, Robots and other intelligent devices helps to reduce the consequences of disasters by providing easy and/or rapid access to dangerous or hard-to-reach areas.
“Among other things, these technologies are helping to strengthen the coordination of the various Civil Defence structures and involvement of local people in disaster risk management. The integration of these technologies into risk and emergency management systems will undoubtedly
considerably improve the safety of the public and of civil defence personnel.”
Highlights of the event included inauguration of Safe School Project, presentation of 19 New Recruits, Silent Drills by Special Female Squard, Stripling and Assembling of Rifle, among other activities.
