13 October 2017 | State House.
Message on the Occasion of
International Day for Disaster Reduction
13 October 2017
For 25 years, the International Day for Disaster Reduction has been a major global awareness event to recognise progress and encourage further efforts to build disaster resilient communities and nations around the world.
The 2017 campaign is Home Safe Home: Reducing Exposure, Reducing Displacement. It seeks to bring attention to the effective actions, policies, and practices that can be taken to reduce exposure to disaster risk at the community level, thereby keeping our homes and livelihoods safe.
All of us have seen the heartbreak, the damage and, the loss of life that hurricanes around the world have caused. As climate continues to change, hurricanes are only going to become more powerful and more devastating. Now more than ever, we need better preparedness in our communities to reduce economic and human losses in case of a natural calamity. Seychelles is a jewel that we have a responsibility to protect.
Natural forces know no boundary, or race, or religion – it can happen anytime and we have to be mindful of the real danger they pose. The government plays a vital role, but it is every citizen’s responsibility to be prepared for a disaster. It only takes one severe calamity, which is why it is so important to make sure that every Seychellois, and every family stays vigilant. If we do that, then we will have the resilience that we need.
The 2017 campaign seeks to raise global awareness about effective actions, policies, and practices taken to reduce exposure to disaster risk at the community level, thereby contributing to saving homes and livelihoods. By efficiently strengthening our Disaster Risk Reduction, Management and Civil Protection System, there will be significant improvements in the lives of citizens.
Over the past couple of years, we have gone through several hazardous events including gale-force winds and torrential rainfall that could have been catastrophic. We salute and thank our risk reduction team and the emergency services for rapid response and containment. During those moments we saw professionalism, dedication and cooperation between government agencies, private sector and the community.
Let us all double our efforts in promoting a change of attitude and behaviour towards disaster risk reduction and management, which will ensure a safer home for all our citizens.
There is only one Seychelles, let’s protect it.
Seychelles for everyone, everyone for Seychelles.
