October 02, 2024
(Sana’a) – As part of the project “Building Climate-resilient Communities in Historic Cities in Yemen through Strengthened Disaster Risk Management and Awareness“, Holm Akhdar for Environmental Consultancy, in partnership with UNESCO and supported by the Government of Japan, implemented an awareness raising and capacity building campaign on safety measures and preparedness in the old city of Sana’a.
Community participation and sensitization are key to ensuring improved preparedness, readiness and response, and strengthening adaptive capacity and resilience to natural disasters and climate change impacts.
Over the past few months, project activities have included the preparation and production of numerous education, awareness and training materials, including posters and placards on flood risks and flooding, brochures with tips and instructions for students on how to behave in the event of flooding, and brochures for families on how to prepare for flash floods.
In response to the rainy season and floods that the country has witnessed, Holm Akhdar Foundation, in coordination with the Civil Defense Authority (CDA) and the Public Authority for the Preservation of Historic Cities, conducted a field awareness campaign, including lectures on the dangers of flooding by Holm Akhdar and Civil Defense team, in a number of institutes, schools, public neighborhoods, and some markets and shops.
The campaign included the distribution of more than 9,000 paper brochures about resilience, preparedness, and best practices before, during and after disaster. Warning banners were also put up on Al-Sayla Road to warn motorists of the dangers of flooding.
In addition, a digital awareness campaign was launched last month at local and national levels, including audio and visual materials that were broadcast on Holm Akhdar platforms and social media sites. This was in addition to an awareness campaign that aired daily for a month on eight local radio stations across the country.
Yemen is one of the most vulnerable countries in the world to the risks of climate change. In recent years, the country has suffered from climate disasters, with frequent storms, flash floods, thunderstorms and landslides. This has severely affected the local population and exacerbated the humanitarian crisis.
About the project
About the project As the ongoing effects of climate change become more frequent, Yemen’s historic cities and their communities are at increased risk of natural disasters, particularly flash floods. These cause significant damage and loss of life, property, infrastructure, and the rich cultural heritage of historic cities.
To address these challenges, UNESCO Gulf States & Yemen, with funding from the Government of Japan, launched the project “Building Climate Resilient Communities in Yemen’s Historic Cities through Strengthening Disaster Risk Management and Awareness”.
Focusing on the ancient city of Sana’a and the ancient walled city of Shibam, the project aims to strengthen disaster preparedness and risk reduction measures. Its main objectives are to establish an early warning system in the old walled city of Shibam, to strengthen the existing early warning system in the old city of Sana’a, to increase community awareness of disaster risk reduction, and to initiate the preparatory phase for the establishment of a flood risk management information system in the country.
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