Disaster Risk Reduction - Nicaragua

DRR IN

Nicaragua Nicaragua’s vulnerability to disasters has vastly increased in the last decades (the most recent being Hurricane Felix and Tropical Storm Ida) severely affecting the most vulnerable population, particularly children.

These populations are highly exposed to hurricane and flood disasters, threatening their community livelihoods as well as their social, political, economical, and environmental infrastructure. In addition, Nicaragua experiences mudslides and earthquakes.

Over the past 2 years in Nicaragua, Save the Children has implemented 2 programs with over $2.8 million USD from

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ECHO, NORAD and COSUDE. Collectively the programs have reached over 39,000 children, with advice from the Regional Emergencies Coordinator (CRE), Save the Children in Latin America and Caribbean.

In addition, we have reached nearly 100,000 community members directly and indirectly. Our DRR work has included early warning systems, preparedness and mitigation. We are committed to developing child rights based approached to DRR through local partners where natural disasters continue to threaten children’s lives.

Preparedness and Mitigation Left: Save the Children’s emergeny team.

Right: First aid training for school brigades in rural communities in Nicaragua.

Cover: Children affected by Hurricane Felix.

Through the ‘Childhood communities and institutions better prepared to respond to emergencies in Prinzapoka Municipality, Nicaragua’ project, Save the Children reduced vulnerability and increased the response capacity of the populations living in the most vulnerable rural and urban areas through a variety of workshops and training with children, the community and key institutions. Linkages were established between institutions at the community, municipal, regional and national levels for emergency preparedness and response.

Save the Children provided small infrastructure support and small mitigation works to reduced the physical and environmental vulnerabilities of the communities. We initiated a integrated watershed management project to protect the source of water and rivers and allow for better soil management and prevention of droughts.

Save the children contributed to the prevention of disasters caused by flooding following hurricanes and tropical storms through supporting reforestation and awareness building activities planned and executed by groups of children and adolescents.

DRR & Education Save the Children works in the implementation of the Early Warning System (EWS), in coordination with national institutions Save the Children coordinated with the Ministry of Education in order to include Risk Management and DRR in the curricula of the regional education system so children could fulfil their right to education with a strong sense of disaster prevention. Children, families and teachers will be encouraged to promote their DRR plans and to coordinate with the municipality.

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