Mercy boss: Learn to deal with disasters

Star: Whenever Mercy Malaysia president Datuk Dr Jemilah Mahmood checks into a hotel, the first thing she does is to find out where the emergency exit or fire extinguisher is.
Knowing the location of the exit or extinguisher was a simple precaution that everyone should practise before a disaster strikes, she said.
Referring to the same concept of taking early precautions, she said the public should be educated on ways to cope when hazards such as earthquakes or hurricanes occur.
“Disaster results from hazards. We cannot stop hazards but we can lessen the impact of hazards,” she said, adding that everyone could reduce vulnerability to reduce disaster.
She pointed out that among the preventive measures were hazard mapping, analysing the risks and setting up early warning systems.
“We can internalise the concept of living with risks by educating those staying by the coastal areas, putting up signboards of tsunami escape routes, ringing bells or sirens when a hazard occurs,” she said.
While speaking on Total Disaster Risk Management at a public forum organised by the Force of Nature Aid Foundation yesterday, Dr Jemilah said it was vital for NGOs to cooperate when managing disaster relief.
Among the speakers at the forum was Sisters in Islam programme manager and chief trainer Zaitun Mohamed Kasim, who said natural disasters had a huge impact on women.
She said 70% of the tsunami victims who died in Aceh were women.
She also said women who survived the aftermath had to endure difficulties such as lack of proper clothing, shelter, food and privacy.