2023 International Disaster Risk Reduction Day, Theme: Fighting Inequality for a Resilient Future
The little things we fail to do today will become the monsters that hunt us tomorrow, with grave consequences…
On 13 October 2023, we joined the International community in marking this year’s International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, reminding us that disaster risk reduction is a collective effort and such it requires a multi-sectorial approach to address.
We appeal to government at all levels and other relevant stakeholders to proactively mitigate inequalities caused basically as a result of prolonged negligence, that deepens the inequality gaps, leading to unequal access to services, and creating poverty, economic hardship, displacement of people from their ancestral homes, and the loss of lives, properties and means of livelihood of the vulnerable.
It is only when these gaps are addressed can there exists equality amongst all people regardless of their political, social, and cultural affiliations, thus building a resilient future for everyone, most especially for generations to come.
Ensuring a resilient future entails breaking the cycle of imminent disasters and growing inequalities to achieve economic growth and development, ease of doing business, social and economic equality, improved standard of living, and reduced cost of living. In achieving this, a collective and multi-sectoral approach is imperative in addressing the connection between disaster and inequality.
To this effect, the Imo state Special Monitoring Mission SMM –IHRC led by Comrd. Ezeani Chiemezie, on Sunday, 15th October 2023, visited a scene of a recently disaster-ravaged Umuchima community in Ideato South Local Government of Imo State to witness firsthand, the economic, social, and cultural impact of a disaster–gully erosion, on the community and its people.
Noting that the gully erosion which became noticeable in 2018-2019 as a default in the construction of the community bridge, subsequently led to the collapse of a section of the bridge. He added that if a Disaster Risk Reduction Approach was taken through minor interventions from stakeholders in the country, it would have averted this ecological disaster ravaging the people of Umuchima and the Ideato Nation.
Stressing that it has negatively impacted the lives of the people within the community and beyond, thereby denying them access to basic social amenities like access to good healthcare, access to road, water supply, and electricity, deprived means of livelihood, displacement of people, increased cost of living, etc.
Mrs. Monica Evangelista an indigene of the community in an interview with our correspondent, Miss Marvelene Ekott, Bar. Nmachi Njemaze and Mr. Philip Ikekwere (SMM-IHRC Volunteers) expressed their displeasure over the unfortunate situation, stating that it has brought hardship to the community, denying them accessible roads, good healthcare, equal opportunities to survive, destruction of properties, and has led to the displacement of people. She therefore pleaded with the relevant authorities to come to their help as the untold hardship is affecting their daily lives and activities.
The SMM-IHRC Imo State is therefore calling for a multi-sectoral approach from all relevant actors in the country and beyond to see that attention is been given to the people of Umuchima, and to give them a sense of belonging. While also calling on leaders all around the world to adopt a Disaster Risk Reduction Approach as a means of preventing, averting, and de-escalating all forms of disaster, hence fighting inequality for a resilient future. Because what we do today, we do for generations.
Reported
Comrd. Ezeani Chiemezie
IHRC SMM, Imo State.
