UZBEKISTAN / DISASTER RESPONSE

Working with the government of Uzbekistan and the European Commission aid department, UNICEF is supporting Disaster Risk Reduction training for children throughout the education system. The country experienced a devastating earthquake in 1966 and powerful tremors this year. UNICEF

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:03:17
• Production Date: 7 November 2011
• Asset Language: Original
• Corporate Name: UNITED NATIONS CHILDREN'S FUND - UNICEF
• Subject Topical: ENVIRONMENT; DISASTER PREVENTION; DISASTER PREPAREDNESS; DISASTER RELIEF
• Geographic Subject: UZBEKISTAN
• MAMS Id: U111107a

Description

STORY: UZBEKISTAN / DISASTER RESPONSE
TRT: 3.17
SOURCE: UNICEF
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / UZBEK

DATELINE: TASHKENT, UZBEKISTAN, OCTOBER 11, 2011

Shotlist

1. Various shots, emergency drill
2. Wide shot, landscape
3. SOUNDBITE (Uzbek) Madina Ganieva, Student:
“Disasters can be earthquakes, or flooding, or fires. And if there’s a quake, you need to get under the bed and wait until the shaking stops. Then get your stuff and get out of the building.”
4. Various shots, summer camp
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Linda Saturno, Chief, Social Policy Section, UNICEF: “What’s really most impressive is the ownership that the Government has taken of this programme. This year in Uzbekistan, the Ministry of Emergency Situations has taken full responsibility for summer camps. This is a programme that was initiated by UNICEF last summer. This year, UNICEF is providing minor support to this effort.”
6. Wide shot, children evacuation
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Linda Saturno, Chief, Social Policy Section, UNICEF: “UNICEF cannot limit our interventions only to schools and students. So in working with the Government, we have expanded our efforts to working with community leaders as well as rural medical clinics in understanding what are the roles of all of these vital organizations in coming together in the event of a disaster.”
8. Various shots, safety drill
9. SOUNDBITE (Uzbek) Ravshan Kazimov, Student:
“We’ve also been taught how to deal with fires. You shouldn’t panic. You should raise the alarm and get to safety. But if it’s a small fire, you should try to put it out with a wet towel.”
10. Various shots, safety drill

Storyline

It is a summer camp with a difference.

A crucial exercise that the children of the Kimyogar camp in the Tashkent region of Uzbekistan, are eager to take part in.

But they also know it has a serious message that could one day save lives.

An imagined earthquake at night, requiring them to evacuate their dormitories, calmly and safely.

Nestling in the idyllic hills of Bostonlik District, it’s hard to imagine that this is a country that is prone to many natural disasters, earthquakes being the most serious.

SOUNDBITE (Uzbek) Madina Ganieva, Student:
“Disasters can be earthquakes, or flooding, or fires. And if there’s a quake, you need to get under the bed and wait until the shaking stops. Then get your stuff and get out of the building.”

Global climate change is also likely to influence the severity and frequency of weather events.

Working with the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Uzbekistan, and the European Commission Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection Department, ECHO, UNICEF supports Disaster Risk Reduction training for children throughout the education system.

And during summer vacations, summer camps like this one, offer the chance to continue the effort.

Programmes like this are also evidence of its sustainability.

SOUNDBITE (English) Linda Saturno, Chief, Social Policy Section, UNICEF:
“What’s really most impressive is the ownership that the Government has taken of this programme. Thisyear in Uzbekistan, the Ministry of Emergency Situations has taken full responsibility for summer camps. This is a programme that was initiated by UNICEF last summer. This year, UNICEF is providing minor support to this effort.”

While children are important in carrying messages home to their families and communities about the need for disaster preparedness, UNICEF is also supporting the wider effort to prepare communities at many different levels.

SOUNDBITE (English) Linda Saturno, Chief, Social Policy Section, UNICEF: “UNICEF cannot limit our interventions only to schools and students. So in working with the Government, we have expanded our efforts to working with community leaders as well as rural medical clinics in understanding what are the roles of all of these vital organizations in coming together in the event of a disaster.”

With real life emergencies already testing the skills of 350,000 pupils and 5,000 teachers who’ve undergone training, the investment is clearly proving its worth.

To ensure sustainability, UNICEF is promoting the inclusion of DRR into formal school curricula and development of training and learning programmes on how to reduce risk at community level.

Children like Kazimov, now better prepared should they be faced by an emergency.

SOUNDBITE (Uzbek) Ravshan Kazimov:
“We’ve also been taught how to deal with fires. You shouldn’t panic. You should raise the alarm and get to safety. But if it’s a small fire, you should try to put it out with a wet towel.”