Workers throughout the country are in their second and final week of a workshop that addresses natural disaster preparations in Vanuatu.

It is a time that Cultural Field Workers are taking closer and serious look at the best and proven methods of the best traditional ways and methods of preserving lives during and after natural disasters strike, especially in the case of cyclones, but also other natural disasters such as drought, earthquake, flooding and tsunamis.

The Field Workers are spending time also with particular focus on traditional housing methods as opposed to the modern iron roofing and concrete homes and buildings.

The Workshop Coordinator, Chief Jacob Kapere, who was former media preservation staff of the Cultural Centre and now Curator of the Tanna and Tafea Museum, said homes and or buildings than can better withstand cyclones such as TC Pam, are the houses built, using full traditional materials and methods. He said during cyclone Pam, the houses that better withstood the force of cyclone Pam on the island of Tanna, were those built using full traditional materials and methods. He said the outcome of the two week workshop will be quite challenging and interesting because, the 40 field workers have come with facts about local knowledge and safer shelters of protecting lives during the cyclones.

The workshop that ends this weekend is also addressing local traditional food preservation for difficult times during and after cyclones as well as water preservation and methods.

He said Vanuatu forefathers left behind wealth of knowledge and traditional wisdom and methods of houses that withstood cyclones. Then there are traditional ways and methods of local food preservations that can keep families surviving for up to 4 years and as well as the methods of keeping without the use of modern matches or fire lighter.

It is the same with traditional methods of water preservation and conservation in preparations for natural disasters before they hit. READ MORE

SOURCE: VANUATU DAILY POST