Nigde Omer Halisdemir University (NOHU) Disaster Education and Management Application and Research Center Director and Engineering Faculty Geology Engineering Department Head Prof. Dr. Mustafa Korkanc provided information on October 13th about “World Disaster Risk Reduction Day” and reducing and managing disaster risks.
THIS YEAR’S MAIN THEME; EMPOWERING THE NEW GENERATION FOR A RESILIENT FUTURE
Prof. Dr. Mustafa Korkanç said, “With the resolutions numbered 44/236 and 56/195 of the United Nations General Assembly, every October 13th of the year has been designated as “World Disaster Risk Reduction Day” since 1989. While evaluating their existing disaster management systems on the one hand, member countries of the United Nations are also looking for ways to create a society that is more resilient in terms of disaster damages and losses for the future, and efforts are being made to raise awareness about how societies are prepared for disaster risks and what they plan to do. Within this scope, a different theme is determined every year, and this year's main theme is; “Empowering the New Generation for a Resilient Future. Within the scope of the call, a guiding toolkit is presented for policy makers and educators in order to empower children and youth, and cities all over the world are invited to organize events inspired by this toolkit.” He said.
“COUNTRIES’ PREPARATION PROCESSES ARE BEING EVALUATED IN TAKING THIS INTO ACCOUNT”
Korkanç said, “Disaster risk reduction and disaster risk management; policies, legislation, institutions and practices regarding reducing losses and damages caused by disasters are evaluated in line with these goals, targets and priorities by taking into account the countries’ preparation processes. Natural hazards are physical events that arise from atmospheric, geological and hydrological events on a global, regional, national or local scale and occur naturally. Disasters are a phenomenon that occurs due to the failure to take sufficient precautions to reduce the negative consequences of potential natural hazards. Disaster risk reduction; It is the practice of reducing disasters through systematic efforts by analyzing the causal factors of disasters, and in this context, countries that prepare their policies, legislation, institutions and practices in line with these goals, objectives and priorities make more progress in managing disaster risk, reducing disaster risk and the losses and damages caused by disasters. Today, disaster protection and disaster risk reduction strategies worldwide include the determination and management of risks that will allow precautions to be taken before disasters occur.” He stated the following.
KORKANÇ ASSESSED OUR COUNTRY
In the last part of his assessment, Prof. Dr. Mustafa Korkanç said, “Due to the geological structure of the geography in which it is located, our country frequently faces natural disasters of geological/hydrological origin, as well as meteorological/climatological disasters and fires. In addition to the very destructive earthquakes in different regions of our country from the past to the present, as a result of disasters such as floods, inundations, landslides, rock falls and forest fires caused by excessive rainfall, many people lose their lives, thousands of residences or workplaces are destroyed or severely damaged, and economic losses totaling billions of liras are experienced. This situation is a clear indication that our country is not sufficiently prepared for natural disasters and that the policies, strategies, institutional structures and practices implemented in coordination cannot be ensured. Rapid urbanization in recent years, deficiencies in planning and inspection, insufficient capacity in local administrations, focus on crisis management rather than damage reduction and preparedness activities in the public sector, and ignoring planning and engineering services in urban planning and building production and inspection processes further exacerbate the problems. As a result; I hope that the "World Disaster Risk Reduction Day" on October 13, 2024 will be a day when our social awareness increases in reducing disaster risks in our country and that all relevant individuals and institutions will gain momentum in this regard in our country under this year's theme of "Empowering the New Generation for a Resilient Future."