The Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) recently hosted the ShakeSmart Regional Communication Workshop, a two-day event held to enhance earthquake preparedness communication across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Organised by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) with support from the Japanese Red Cross Society, the workshop brought together communication representatives from various National Societies to develop more effective risk communication strategies tailored to diverse communities.
The event, titled “From Toolkit to Action,” focused on translating communication tools into actionable plans aimed at urban earthquake readiness. Mohamed Bader Al-Sadah, assistant secretary-general for International Relief and Development at QRCS, highlighted the importance of preparedness by recalling the 1948 Ashgabat earthquake in Turkmenistan, which killed over 100,000 people—approximately 10 percent of the country’s population at the time. He emphasized that aside from inadequate infrastructure, a critical factor in disaster outcomes is the level of public knowledge on how to respond. The workshop sought to empower participants to adapt the ShakeSmart initiative’s toolkit to their national and local contexts, crafting awareness messages and materials that respond to the unique needs of various community groups.
Participants also worked together to design a coordinated regional “Drop, Cover, and Hold” drill. This simple yet vital response technique aims to reduce injuries and save lives during seismic events. “We are not simply drafting plans on paper; we are building communities that know how to protect themselves,” Al-Sadah said.
The workshop was conducted against a backdrop of recent powerful earthquakes in the region, notably those in Syria, Türkiye, and Morocco, underscoring the ongoing seismic risks facing many communities. In a video address, Cristhian Cortez, IFRC MENA deputy regional director, noted that these disasters have compounded challenges for vulnerable populations already dealing with urbanization, displacement, and climate-related hazards. He stressed the importance of public understanding of earthquake risks and response actions, stating that while earthquakes themselves cannot be prevented, their impacts can be mitigated through effective preparedness.
Kentaro Nakashima of the Japanese Red Cross also participated via video, underscoring the critical role of communication during earthquakes. Nakashima explained that individuals have only seconds to react when an earthquake strikes, and their actions are shaped by prior knowledge and training, not immediate concerns like financial costs.
Overall, the workshop aimed to enhance the capacity of National Societies across MENA to design, localize, and implement coordinated, community-centered earthquake preparedness communication strategies. Through the ShakeSmart initiative, the region seeks to improve public awareness and readiness, ultimately reducing the human toll of future seismic events.