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ANALYSING THE CHALLENGES OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN THE FACE OF DISASTERS IN CARACAS, VENEZUELA


Participants in the Disability and Disasters Forum: a not so obvious conversation, in Caracas Venezuela

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Source: UNDP – Venezuela

CARACAS, Venezuela, October 24, 2013- The International Day for Disaster Reduction is celebrated annually on October 13. This year, the United Nations chose "Living with disabilities and disaster" as the theme for the celebration. In this context, the United Nations Development Programme - Venezuela (UNDP), in partnership with the Popular Action Service Centred (CESAP) organized the "Disability and Disasters: a not so obvious conversation" forum, held on October 22, 2013 at CESAP headquarters in Caracas.

 

 

The event was organized by Mr. Niky Fabiancic, UNDP Resident Representative, Diana Vegas, President of CESAP and Dr. Ada Flores, General Director of Risk Management of the Vice Ministry for Risk Management and Civil Protection. In his opening remarks, Mr. Fabiancic, invited the audience to reflect on the individual and specific challenges faced by people with disabilities.
 "I firmly believe that all those present share in the idea that it is possible to build a more caring and inclusive world. It is based on this assumption that I would like to call and invite everyone to build a world in which people with disabilities may enjoy greater security in the face of disasters. The task is not easy, but it is possible," said Mr. Fabiancic.
The first lecture, "Progress of the implementation of the Hyogo Framework for Action. Results for "Views from the Frontline 2013," was conducted by Abelina Caro, CESAP Project Officer - Global Network for Disaster Reduction and Promoter of the UNISDR Global Campaign "Making Cities Resilient: My City is Getting Ready!” in Venezuela, followed by Omar Eduardo Martinez, Manager of Research and Local Statistical Development (GIDEL) of the National Statistics Institute (INE) and Gustavo Coronel, Advisor to the Venezuelan Foundation for Seismological Research (FUNVISIS), who spoke on the "Indicators of Vulnerability and Seismic Risk in Caracas”, Caracas Seismic Project.

In the second set of lectures, Dr. Ada Flores, General Director of Risk Management of the Vice Ministry for Risk Management and Civil Protection and Dr. Virginia Jimenez spoke about the Management Law of Socio-natural and Technological Risks as a tool for participation. Next, Jennifer Guralnick, Programme Officer of the Regional Office for the Americas of the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR), spoke virtually from Panama on Disaster Reduction and Resilient Cities.
Finally, Ms. Ariana Tarhan, Director of Metropolitan Planning and Management, of the Caracas Mayor’s Office, spoke about the programme: "Accessibility for ALL": Adaptation of the city and improved accessibility for people with disabilities and reduced mobility.

The successful forum was well attended by over 160 people from eight states of Venezuela: Anzoátegui, Lara, Mérida, Miranda, Carabobo, Aragua, Vargas and the Captial District, in addition to technical and government authorities and a large audience from civil society.
The quality of the dialogue generated between those present about the inclusion of people with disabilities in public policies for reducing disaster risk was rated as very satisfactory, since the Forum activated interest and generated a climate for further work on the issues, both together and separately.