Pakistan: Caritas Trains 150 Karachi Students in Disaster Preparedness, Plants 50 Saplings

Caritas Pakistan Karachi held a disaster preparedness awareness session and tree-planting drive at St. Vincent de Paul Secondary School in Karachi, southern Pakistan, on October 13, bringing together more than 160 participants, including 150 students, teachers and community members.

The initiative marked the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction and was organized in collaboration with the school’s Disaster Management Committee under the global theme “Resilience Starts at Home.”

Mansha Noor, executive secretary of Caritas Pakistan Karachi, emphasized the importance of teaching young people safety procedures alongside their formal education so they can respond responsibly during emergencies.

He urged students to practice safety measures in their daily lives, discuss emergency plans with their families and protect the environment. Well-prepared homes and safe schools, he said, help build communities better equipped to face disasters.

Sarfraz Anwar, disaster risk reduction project officer, explained the differences between natural hazards, including earthquakes, floods, tsunamis, storms and cyclones, and emergencies caused by human activity, such as electrical fires, building collapses and road accidents.

He highlighted how awareness and appropriate safety precautions can reduce damage and save lives.

Following the awareness session, students planted around 50 saplings across the school grounds to promote urban greenery and climate resilience. The trees are expected to help absorb carbon emissions, reduce soil erosion and improve local air quality as they grow.

Anwar encouraged students to care for the newly planted saplings, suggesting they use small amounts of water from their drinking bottles to keep the plants hydrated during dry periods.

Students welcomed the initiative and pledged to nurture the saplings they had planted and continue protecting the environment.

Rasheed Lal, principal of St. Vincent de Paul Secondary School, thanked Caritas Pakistan Karachi for its collaboration and described the organization as an important partner in the school’s educational mission. He said the school remained committed to future initiatives aimed at strengthening community resilience and promoting responsible citizenship among young people.

The International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction is observed annually on October 13. Established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1989, it promotes awareness of disaster risks and measures to reduce their impact on communities