Berea __ Berea District Disaster Management Team (DDMT) has reaffirmed the significance of every individual to take part in preventing disasters, citing that the disaster risk reduction is everyone’s responsibility.

DDMT commemorated the Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) day under a theme, “Empowering the next generation for a resilient future” at Kolojane Primary school where both high school and primary school students demonstrated ways of evacuating a collapsed person during the emergency situation and giving first aid.

In her remarks, Berea Disaster Management Authority (DMA) District Disaster Manager (DDM) Mrs. Nts’ilane Baholo Maliehe stressed that their key mandate is to provide capacity through education and awareness campaigns to all groups of the society regarding the hazards and risks associated with them which can lead to the disasters.

She said when people are capacitated with knowledge, they as well develop skills on how to mitigate and build resilience against any form of disaster.

DDM said they did advocate for the incorporation of the DRR in the school’s curriculum with the intention to ensure that children are better equipped with knowledge and to make them part of their daily lives.

She further assured the participating schools that through the support of their working partners, they are going to establish the DRR clubs in schools, adding that they should as well develop their disaster preparedness plans.

Mrs. Maliehe further said despite celebrating the DRR, the country has declared the state of emergency against hunger, therefore she urged the community to take an opportunity of the current rainfall through cultivation of fields in order to promote food security, adding that everyone has a role to play in building resilience against poverty and hunger.

She pointed out that it is not the duty of DMA and its partners only to provide food assistance, but there is also a need for community members to develop resilience strategies against any shocks.

Also speaking, Kolojane Village Disaster Management Team (VDMT) Chairperson Mr. Tumisang Kola said demonstration made by children is a clear indication that they have learnt, adding that they are overwhelmed to be the host venue for DDR day celebration.

Mr. Kola highlighted that for many years they have been living in darkness, but DDMT has shed a new light in their lives and all credit should be given to DMA.

Representing World Vision Lesotho (WVL) Mr. Makhera Kalele said as WVL they are running a campaign of ENOUGH aimed to ensure the children’s lives are protected and they reach every child with healthy meals.

Mr. Kalele said climate change is a pressing issue which they cannot turn their back against, therefore people are encouraged to approach agriculture in a climate smart way in order to promote food security regardless of weather.

He said during the drought season, among the worst affected are women and children, moreover they encounter various situations, hence the importance of working together in the mitigation of climate change impact as part of making life easy for such vulnerable groups of society.

On behalf of Lesotho Mounted Police Service Fire and Safety Brigade, Superintendent (Supt) Muso Lehlokoa said people have a bad tendency of setting some wildfires with the aim to get green shots, but are unaware of its negative impacts on the environment.

Supt. Lehlokoa said the country is going through the adverse effects of weather events, agriculture is no longer reliable and one of the major causes is climate change, hence it is wise to keep the natural vegetation intact.

She said having started that trainings of safety and fire prevention among the children is another way of showing a seed at tender stage and the country will become more secure and enhance economic growth, therefore they guarantee to come back and offer some trainings on prevention of fire and first aid skills as part of capacity building for the community and building resilient against any hazards.

Kolojane Community Councillor Mr. Thabiso Mohlotsane said although they are celebrating, they are living under vulnerable conditions like having dongas which are compromising the safety of their children when coming to schools, therefore they are in dire need of the footbridge.

Mr. Mohlotsane added that the escalating rate of crime in Kolojane is yet another challenge and as a result they need a police post and electricity.

On behalf of the Department of Education and Training (MOET), Kolojane Primary school Principal Mr. Motebang Tlali said they acknowledge DMA for instilling new skills among their schools.

Mr. Tlali said regardless of their students having mastered the first aid demonstrations, it is not enough as teachers and members of the community need to be equipped with the same skill as well, adding that they will make a special request to the school for the continuity of such safety programmes in schools.

The event was graced by songs related to the theme from Kolojane primary and High school and the Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD).

During the same event, DDMT in partnership with WVL also handed over some hygiene packs for students.