Risk Reduction

Sri Lankans have suffered from a wide range of disasters, both natural and man-made: tsunami, cyclones, floods, landslides, droughts, riots, terrorism and war. When disaster strikes, it is usually the poorest people who are the most vulnerable and worst affected. Disaster risk reduction is a necessary and critical part of our work.

Safety training for tsunami-affected communities

Sewalanka helps at-risk communities increase awareness about local disaster risks and develop strategies for disaster prevention, mitigation and preparedness. In our experience, these activities can reduce the likelihood of an emergency, protect lives, assets and livelihoods and increase a community?s resilience and ability to respond to a disaster.

We work with community organizations to:

  • Assess local risks, identify opportunities for prevention or mitigation and prepare disaster response plans

  • Establish disaster management committees to coordinate disaster preparedness and prevention activities.

  • Identify safe places, develop evacuation plans and coordinate practice drills

  • Work with government authorities to establish reliable early-warning and communications systems (sirens, loudspeakers, etc)

  • Identify the most vulnerable members in the community and ensure that special plans are made to care for them in the event of an emergency

  • Coordinate regular awareness and training programs on local disaster risks, emergency response plans, evacuation procedures and first aid.

  • Prevent and mitigate disasters through mangrove restoration, the construction of bunds and channels, erosion control measures, saving systems, etc.

As part of our disaster risk reduction program, we have also trained Sewalanka staff in emergency response procedures and developed regional response plans to rapidly mobilize supplies and equipment.

For more information on Sewalanka's disaster risk reduction activities, please contact south@sewalanka.org. Our community-based disaster risk reduction approach was tested on September 9, 2007. See this article and other disaster risk reduction stories on our newsletter page.