Red Cross
On Sunday, the border towns of Costa Rica and Panama joined in celebration of the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction. Both nations seek to raise awareness about the importance of community readiness to reduce the impact of disasters.
Glauco Quesada, president of the Red Cross, explained they developed a border cooperation project with the Panamanian communities since 2010. It is a risk reduction program for villages living on the banks of River Sixaola.
Every year we are in Talamanca to celebrate the day of disaster reduction, using and displaying local traditions, the bands seem to be elements that unites them,”
said Quesada.
Activities near Sixaola Bridge, on the border with Panama, began at 8 a.m. and finished at around 3 p.m.
Today is a day to talk about how to create competencies in communities, to reduce disaster mortality rates for people who live alongside a rising river. Disasters happen, they are a reality, and they cause human losses. But the impact can be reduced,”
added Quesada.
The celebration involved residents of the community of Guabito, in the district of Changuinola in Panama.