Mr Khamis Arazak, the Coordinator for ‘Disaster Preparedness and Management Commission (DPMC)’ in Pemba, said that children in schools at all levels should understand the need for disaster preparedness so that they can rescue themselves or help others in case of disasters while at home or in school.
“Natural disasters and those caused by man are becoming common. We have decided to educate children in schools so that they remain well prepared,” said Mr Arazak. Students at the Benjamin William Mkapa College of Education at the State University of Zanzibar (SUZA) were among the students in Pemba to benefit from the disaster preparedness awareness campaign.
He said lack of knowledge about disaster preparedness remains a big challenge among communities in Zanzibar and that his office has decided to run an awareness campaign so that people including children can be in a better position to respond to disasters.
Mr Makame Khatib Makame from DPMC told the students at SUZA that a house or a village can be hit by disasters if it is located in a risky area.
“Causes of disasters are many including climate change, improper disposal of wastes, political unrests, environmental ruin by sand digging and felling of trees. Ms Jokha Hakim Seif, a students’ president, commended the (DPMC) for the awareness programmes, saying it should be extended to villages.