Developing effective earthquake risk reduction strategies: The potential role of academic institutions in Lebanon

Abstract

Lebanon faces the risk of powerful earthquakes with potentially devastating effects. However, the Lebanese people in general have not yet recognized this risk, as current educational programs and government officials have failed to inform them about it. This article discusses the essential role that Lebanese institutions of higher education should play in educating the public about this risk and in preparing the public to take risk reduction measures. It calls for efforts to integrate earthquake risk education into academic programs and to establish research facilities and student volunteer programs on university campuses across Lebanon to reduce the impact of future earthquake disasters and to make Lebanese communities more resilient to future crises. Without the engagement of higher education institutions in disaster prevention and mitigation, Lebanese communities will remain vulnerable to massively destructive earthquakes. © 2015, UNESCO IBE.