As the world faces greater volatility, our students were offered invaluable insight into the realm of disaster relief through an apt and captivating talk by Mr Sahari Ani, Group Director and Dean of the Singapore Red Cross Academy, and understood how we can band together to overcome catastrophic situations.
With two decades of hands-on experience in the field, Mr Ani has been at the forefront of identifying and addressing critical needs in disaster-stricken areas across Asia, the Middle East and Europe. Deployed on numerous significant missions, including providing aid in the aftermath of Tsunamis in Japan and Sulawesi, earthquakes in Bohol and Nepal, and the devastating impact of Typhoon Haiyan, Mr Ani’s unwavering commitment to humanitarian efforts has earned him recognition through prestigious awards such as the Humanity Award and Courage Star Award.
Mr Sahari Ani engages students with his own experiences in various countries.
During the sharing session, Mr Ani shared his memorable experiences and connected students with theories and concepts on risk and disaster management, humanitarian eco-systems, community resilience and capacity building. He also delved into his concerns about climate change, social issues and socio-economic challenges which may impact Singapore in the near future.
Participants of the talk are enriched with new perspectives about disaster relief management.
Anne Megan Kong, SUSS Year 1 Public Safety and Security student, reflected, “I found it useful that the speaker explained the differences between various humanitarian aid organisations. Before this, I was unaware that there were various types of red cross organisations that dealt with different types of crisis!”
Ismail Umar Sumaiya Begam, SUSS Year 1 Public Safety and Security student, added, “The session gave me a better understanding of what defines a disaster, and how communities and organisations come together to respond to such disasters. Being a humanitarian is a challenging role as they have to adapt to rapidly changing situations. It can be emotionally demanding to witness the suffering of others and to work tirelessly to alleviate it. It truly inspires us to take part in this humanitarian journey and make a difference.”