Emergencies and Disasters

PSI is devastated and heartbroken at the death and destruction caused by tropical Cyclone Idai which roared into Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi on 14-15 March. Over 500 people have so far been confirmed dead, but the death toll is feared to be much higher as affected areas continue to receive news of more casualties.

On UN International Day for Disaster Prevention, PSI calls on UN to focus on public emergency workers and warns of increasing climate chaos.

PSI learns with chilling accounts, the rising numbers of the toll of death of persons returning from a busy market day on 20 September, when their overloaded ferry, MV Nyerere, capsized on Lake Victoria, killing most of its passengers.

As of 20 August, the death toll due to floods in the southern Indian state of Kerala stood at 1,361. More than 700,000 people are now in close to 3,000 relief camps across the state. Rescue and relief efforts have been tireless, by the government and by civil society.

Earlier this year, the NGO Solar Head of State held a challenge targeting youth and young adults in which the goal was to inspire local or school communities to recognize the many advantages of solar energy. PSI affiliate the Jamaica Association of Local Government Officers (JALGO) was the only sponsor from the trade union movement and has contributed prize money to the challenge.

PSI General Secretary, Rosa Pavanelli, arrived in Japan on 22 June for a three-day visit, invited by PSI Japan Council (PSI-JC), the National Coordinating Committee of PSI affiliates in the country.

On 26 June, PSI held a half-day meeting on Emergency Service Workers in Kathmandu, Nepal, aimed at discussing and contributing to the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Guidelines to Ensure Decent Work in Public Emergency Services (PES). The seven unions represented decided to engage the government to ensure its support for the Guidelines and develop of a strategy to implement them.