SOUTHERN AFRICA: Strengthening regional disaster management crucial

[ This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations]

WINDHOEK, 23 Sep 2005 (IRIN) - Experts from 14 Southern African countries are meeting in Windhoek this week to discuss measures for strengthening their response to disasters in the context of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the region.

In 2001, Southern African Development Community (SADC) heads of state agreed to map out a framework for cooperation in managing disasters like floods and droughts, as an integral part of their overall regional development initiatives.

A technical committee was established and an SADC Disaster Management Strategy developed, with the support of the UN Development Programme. However, a lack of funds and institutional capacity has hampered progress and implementation of the strategy, according to an SADC secretariat report released at the conference.

"The various national and regional activities relating to disaster management must urgently be harmonised," Namibia's Deputy Prime Minister, Libertina Amathila, told the gathering.

"There is a need for SADC action to enter into an appropriate disaster management protocol to give more impetus, and to diminish duplication of relief efforts and wasteful deployment of resources," Amathila added. She also called for better cooperation with international aid NGOs.

The technical committee will now fall under the SADC's Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources (FANR) directorate, where "most structures related to disasters" were located, said Mbeuta Ua-Ndjarakana, an official in the Namibian Prime Minister's office. The committee was previously housed in the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security.

"The prevalence of HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis exacerbates the effects of drought and floods, as people are less resilient [and find it difficult] to recover from such disasters," Ua-Ndjarakana pointed out.

According to the report, existing disaster response management strategy is to be revised by a special task force.

"The [SADC] secretariat regards disaster preparedness of SADC defence and security forces under the SADC Standby Force as a top priority." Training and exercise programmes in search and rescue operations for the military and police would also be conducted regularly.

The Namibian Red Cross Society (NRCS) said it and its sister organisations were committed to cooperation within the SADC disaster management framework.

"Presently, 35 participants from the 10 regional Red Cross Societies in Southern Africa receive regional disaster response team training in Windhoek for two weeks," said Abel Hamutenya, a spokesman for the NRCS.

"The main goal is to create a core group of competent people from the national societies to enhance regional disaster response, encourage close coordination with a variety of actors, quick decision-making and rapid deployment of resources," Hamutenya told IRIN.

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