UNFPA Delegation Visits Ganjam’s Tsunami Ready Village ‘Venkatraipur’ to Learn about Disaster Preparedness Activities

Berhampur: A high level delegation of United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) on Wednesday visited Venkatraipur, a Tsunami ready village under Rangeilunda block in Ganjam district, to learn about the disaster preparedness activities.

The delegation comprising Bjorn Andersson, Regional Director of UNFPA for Asia-Pacific (Bangkok, Thailand) and Andrea M. Wojnar, UNFPA Indian Representative & Country Director, Bhutan visited the coastal village to gain knowledge about various disaster mitigation strategies.

Andersson and Wojnar had interacted with the community and task force volunteers on Tsunami and cyclone preparedness. They held discussions with the Mission Shakti SHGs and PRI members to learn about their contribution in the fight against natural disaster.

The team also visited the multipurpose cyclone shelter in Venkatraipur village, which lies around 600 metres away from the coastline. The village has received “Tsunami Ready” recognition from the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO based on parameters such as preparation of a community Tsunami risk reduction plan, mapping of tsunami hazard zones, public display of tsunami information and evacuation maps among others.

Venkatraipur has witnessed several cyclones in the past but is now prepared to face the natural disasters. The village has wide display boards with evacuation plans and maps in case a tsunami-like situation occurs and a well equipped multipurpose cyclone shelter.

The UNFPA delegation has highly appreciated the disaster preparedness activities of this coastal Ganjam village.

During the UNFPA team’s visit, Rangeilunda BDO Biswajit Ray, other officials and OSDMA staffs were present.