When the first whistles sound, the residents of the indigenous community of Coayare hurry out of their wooden homes. Everyone knows what the whistle means: a fire has broken out.
The youth leader gathers the adolescents and children and takes them to the Maloka - the large hut and centre of social life for indigenous communities of Colombia. Adults of the community form a security ring and put out the fire lit for this exercise.
This drill activity, funded by the European Union and organised by the German and the Colombian Red Cross, is just one of many carried out in South America. Activities such as this help rural communities prepare as best they can for sudden emergencies. These exercises are vital for indigenous communities living in remote areas where, due to the geographical location, not waiting for help from outside could make the difference between life and death.
Since 1994, the EU has financed more than 600 disaster preparedness projects in Latin America and the Caribbean, with a financial contribution of more than €344 million.
Over the past 30 years, EU programmes have reached millions of people, helping preserve precious resources but, most of all, saving lives.
Story by Daniele Pagani, Regional Information Officer for Latin America and the Caribbean, EU Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations.
Twitter: @ECHO_LatAmPublication date: 14/07/2023