ENB starts disaster awareness

 THE East New Britain Red Cross branch under a new management has started an awareness drive on disaster preparedness in the province.

The new chairman of the branch is local businessman and owner of Arpi Ltd, Dennisson Kyvung.

The awareness campaign, with emphasis on schoolchildren, on the work of the Red Cross started last week.

The awareness was focus on different types of disasters.

It focused on the different types of disasters the province was exposed to and how people could be better prepared in the event of a natural disaster.

Kyvung said disaster risk management was a new concept.

Kyvung said it was being trailed in five provincial Red Cross branches including East New Britain.

He called on major stakeholders in the province to take ownership of the disaster risk management programmes.

He said it was a must to assist Red Cross in its efforts to ensure the province was well prepared to address natural disasters.

Rabaul Red Cross branch emergency operations centre officer Steven Kilang commended the Rabaul Volcanological Observatory for its  partnership.

He said the Observatory’s partnership in conducting awareness in Rabaul district schools last week was very much appreciated. 

Kilang said awareness would be extended to other districts in the province. 

He said teaching people about disaster management was vital and it would go a long way.