Mr. Robert Glasser, Head of UN office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR), on the occasion of International Day for Disaster Reduction on 19th October 2016, in his address, recognised SEEDS’ efforts in India and Nepal as one of the five outstanding examples of successful efforts to reduce disaster mortality.
In his speech, he praised SEEDS’ devotion to providing cyclone and earthquake-resistant housing to thousands of poor families across India and post-earthquake in Nepal. Mr. Glasser said: “The great work that SEEDS and many other NGOs do in providing families with safe housing demonstrates that low-cost affordable housing can be provided in a way that protects people from natural hazards.”
International Day for Disaster Reduction marked the beginning of the “Sendai Seven Campaign: Seven Targets, Seven Years” by the UNISDR. This campaign references the seven targets for reducing disaster losses in the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction adopted by UN Member States in March, 2015. Mr Glasser named SEEDS as one of the “Sendai Target Champions for Reducing Disaster Mortality”.
SEEDS as part of Nepal Earthquake Response constructed 2520 transitional shelters across eleven of the worst affected districts of Nepal. These homes were built jointly by local partners and the victims themselves, with material and support provided by SEEDS.
After the September 2014 floods in Jammu and Kashmir, SEEDS quickly responded to immediate housing and basic needs of 314 flood-affected families across 58 villages in Poonch and Pulwama districts. SEEDS further supported 192 families across 14 villages in Pulwama district of J&K with transitional shelters, for these families were in dire need of some interim arrangement to survive the harsh winters.
In Chennai, post the floods in December 2015, SEEDS took on the mission to rebuild Chennai, wherein it continues to build 200 transitional shelters for affected families residing in urban slum of Madhavaram.
These transitional homes are built quickly with low cost construction technology and in complete compliance with local environment and cultural nuances both in terms of technology and designs.
As SEEDS continues its work in India and Nepal in providing earthquake and cyclone-resistant housing for poor communities, this recognition by Mr. Glasser is extremely pleasant and gratifying.
SEEDS is a member of National Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (NPDRR) constituted by the Government of India.