University of Peshawar launches landmark RESCUE Project on International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction

Peshawar, Pakistan (October 13, 2024) - The University of Peshawar's Centre for Disaster Preparedness and Management (CDPM) proudly announces the launch of its flagship project, "Resilience Education for School Children Understanding Emergencies (RESCUE)" on the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction 2024. This initiative aligns with the International Day theme, "Empowering the next generation for a resilient future". Given Pakistan's vulnerability to climate change, RESCUE addresses the urgent need for resilience education. This is achieved by strengthening the education sector's emergency response capacity, fostering youth and community participation, and promoting a culture of resilience. Key benefits include improved resilience among school children, enhanced adaptation capacity, community ownership, and policy influence. CDPM invites donor agencies and organizations to support this critical initiative. "We are committed to disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation, sustainability, and community resilience," emphasized Prof. Dr. Zulfiqar Ali, CDPM Director. "RESCUE will create a lasting impact on school children, teachers, and communities, contributing to a more disaster and climate-resilient Pakistan." Prof. Dr. Ali said, "The CDPM possesses the necessary expertise, networking, and research capacity to implement RESCUE successfully."

Project lead Dr. Mushtaq Ahmad Jan outlined the implementation strategy, which involves conducting needs assessments and baseline surveys, developing resilience education materials and teacher guides, and training children and educators. Dr. Jan highlighted the devastating consequences of disasters in Pakistan, particularly for children. "The 2005 earthquake alone took 18,000 young lives, mostly in schools. The 2010 flood affected 9 million children and damaged 12,693 schools. More recently, the 2022 floods resulted in unacceptable child casualties and disruptions to education, affecting 16 million children and claiming 400 young lives." He emphasized that these statistics underscore our collective responsibility to protect Pakistan's children from disasters. "We must take immediate, targeted measures to ensure their safety, well-being, and continued education," Dr. Jan urged. "As a nation, we owe it to our children to act decisively and safeguard their future."