UMHLAHLANDLELA WAKWA-UNICEF WOKULUNGISELELA IZIMO EZIPHUTHUMAYO

This guide, developed by children and youth aged 13 to 25 in South Africa in collaboration with UNICEF and Youth@SAIIA, provides a framework for young people to prepare for and respond to emergencies. It focuses on building community resilience through risk identification, early warning systems, and the development of personal and community emergency plans.

• The guide was co-created by South African children and youth between the ages of 13 and 25 through online training and youth-led sessions during a six-month period in 2022.
• The document defines an emergency as a critical, unexpected, and often dangerous situation that puts life, health, property, or the environment at risk, requiring immediate action to reduce impact.
• South Africa faces diverse emergency risks, including climate-related events such as floods, droughts, and wildfires, as well as health crises like pandemics and social unrest.
• The guide emphasizes that emergency preparedness is not about becoming a professional first responder, but about empowering citizens to protect themselves and their communities.
• A core component of preparedness is risk identification, which involves analyzing hazards, vulnerability (such as economic or physical risk), and the overall level of danger to people and property.
• The guide recommends the creation of a 'Go-Bag' (emergency kit) designed to sustain a person for at least 72 hours, containing water (2 liters per person per day), non-perishable food, lighting, and essential documents.
• To combat 'fake news' during emergencies, the guide provides a verification framework: checking the source, finding supporting sources, verifying the date, and analyzing images and videos for manipulation.
• Specific response protocols are provided for different disasters: for floods, users are told to unplug electrical appliances; for wildfires, they should close windows and doors and move flammable items away from the house.
• The document encourages youth to engage in policy change by reviewing Integrated Development Plans (IDPs) and the Disaster Management Act to advocate for better infrastructure and community safety.
• Post-emergency recovery focuses on physical safety (checking for gas leaks or downed power lines), mental health support, and community rebuilding through mutual aid.

APA

South African Institute of International Affairs (n.d.). UMHLAHLANDLELA WAKWA-UNICEF WOKULUNGISELELA IZIMO EZIPHUTHUMAYO. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/SAIIA-UNICEF-Emergency-Preparedness-Guide-ISIZULU-LOW-RES.pdf

Chicago

South African Institute of International Affairs. UMHLAHLANDLELA WAKWA-UNICEF WOKULUNGISELELA IZIMO EZIPHUTHUMAYO. n.d. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/SAIIA-UNICEF-Emergency-Preparedness-Guide-ISIZULU-LOW-RES.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=South African Institute of International Affairs |title=UMHLAHLANDLELA WAKWA-UNICEF WOKULUNGISELELA IZIMO EZIPHUTHUMAYO |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/SAIIA-UNICEF-Emergency-Preparedness-Guide-ISIZULU-LOW-RES.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{southafricaninstituteofinternationalaffairsndumhlahlandlela, author = {{South African Institute of International Affairs}}, title = {{UMHLAHLANDLELA WAKWA-UNICEF WOKULUNGISELELA IZIMO EZIPHUTHUMAYO}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, url = {https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/SAIIA-UNICEF-Emergency-Preparedness-Guide-ISIZULU-LOW-RES.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }