400 PEOPLE PARTICIPATE IN AN EMERGENCY DRILL WITH CIVIL DEFENSE

Wednesday October 1, 2014. Managua, Nicaragua. Andrea Núñez-Flores Rey

• 400 people, 240 children, have participated in Tololar community.
• Project of Disaster Risk Reduction with Focus on Children’s Rights. 

240 children participated in a simulation of earthquake and volcanic eruption organized by the Civil Defense of Nicaragua in the rural community Tololar, Leon, on 29 September. 

So far this year, the partner of Save the Children made 11 emergency disaster drills as part of the Project of Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) with Focus on Children’s Rights.  More than 3300 people were involved in communities of León, Madriz, El Cuá, Estelí and Nueva Segovia

The purpose is to prepare local structures to natural and manmade catastrophes to strengthen their capacities and to ensure a rapid and effective response for protecting the population. "The role of Civil Defense is helping people in disaster situations. This drill tries to be as realistic as possible," said Lieutenant Colonel of Civil Defense, Juan Pablo Marenco.

Students from preschool to high school and school brigades were heavily involved in this drill. They conducted activities related to the coordination with different institutions, evacuation plans, creation of safety zones and temporary shelters or evacuation of the school highlighted, among others. In addition, they were able to demonstrate their skills in caring for people during emergency situations.

All participants were particularly involved in the need to protect the most vulnerable people, including children, adolescents, people with disabilities and seniors.

The Humanitarian Rescue Unit (HRU), the Army of León, Ministry of Health and Education, Nicaraguan Red Cross, mayor of León and Government Office, among others institutions, were also involved achieving a great learning journey, where all participants demonstrated local capacity to respond to emergencies.

"We have worked 53 days in each community to make these drills of DRR with Focus on Children’s Rights. Among other activities, we have trained schools and created plans for prevention and mitigation for communities and schools. Since the last 12 years, the Civil Defense has been working with Save the Children in León and together we have attend about 60 communities, which have supported other communities,” explains Lieutenant Colonel Marenco.