VP to lead Disaster Day commemoration
Vice-President Khumbo Kachali will lead the nation in commemorating this year’s International Day for Disaster Reduction (IDDR) to be held this Thursday at Kachulu Police Unit ground in Zomba.
This year’s Disaster Day, which falls on 13 October annually, will be marked under the theme Living With Disability And Disaster: A Not So Obvious Conversation.
Jeffrey Kanyinji, principal secretary and commissioner for Disaster Management Affairs, said through this year’s commemoration, the United Nations seeks to shift public mindset and reframe perspectives of disability and disasters.
He said in an interview: “It has been estimated that almost a billion people globally are affected by some kind of disability, and are disproportionately affected by disasters because disaster prevention measures are designed and implemented in many parts of the world, including Malawi, without taking into account persons with disabilities.”
Kanyinji added that in highlighting this ‘not so obvious conversation’, IDDR 2013 brings greater focus to and aims to reduce the marginalisation of person living with disabilities in disaster contexts and to enhance the participation of persons living with disabilities in disaster risk reduction consultation.
Activities to mark the day will start this Wednesday evening at Chancellor College’s Great Hall where there will be a panel discussion focusing on the theme. The discussion will be broadcast live on Zodiak Broadcasting Station.
The climax, however, will be tomorrow [Wednesday] at Kachulu where there will be pavillion displays, traditional dances, drama, comedy, storytelling and speeches.
