UNDP kicks off series of evacuation drills to strengthen tsunami preparedness of schools in coastal communities

More drills will be held at an additional four schools in Baucau, Dili and Liquica municipalities before the end of March

March 16, 2018

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Dili, 16 March 2018: Today UNDP collaborated with the National Directorate for Disaster Risk Management and Manatuto Municipality local authority to hold a tsunami evacuation drill at St. Antonio Primary School, supported by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and Red Cross.

Around 150 students received a detailed briefing before participating in a series of simulated exercises which involved taking cover in their classrooms, evacuating the building and re-convening at a designated meeting point. Trained medics from the Red Cross also provided a practical demonstration on evacuating and caring for the injured.

“Countries in the Asia-Pacific region – including Timor-Leste - are vulnerable to tsunami risks, and drills are an effective way of increasing awareness and preparedness amongst coastal communities,” said UNDP Chief Technical Advisor for the Tsunami Preparedness Project, Alamgir Hossain.

“In the last 50 years there have been 37 deadly tsunamis, approximately one in every 1.5 years. Most have occurred in the Asia Pacific region with more than 280,000 people losing their lives. Awareness and preparedness are more important than ever before.”

More drills will be held at an additional four schools in Baucau, Dili and Liquica municipalities before the end of March.

This initiative to strengthen the preparedness of schools is being implemented by UNDP in 18 countries across the Asia-Pacific in collaboration with Tohoku University, Japan and the International Tsunami Information Centre (ITIC), funded by the Government of Japan.

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For more information please contact: media.tl@undp.org

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