The East African Legislative Assembly’ today commenced a two day consultation on Disaster Risk Reduction. The consultation is organized by EALA’s Committee on Agriculture, Tourism and Natural Resources and is themed: “Disaster Risk Reduction: An Instrument for Achieving the Millennium Development Goals”.
In her introductory remarks, the Committee’s chairperson, Hon. Safina Kwekwe, EALA MP, noted the need to put together concerted efforts in mitigating disasters in the EAC. “We are living in a region that is prone to disaster…we had a short scare in 2008 when we experienced a Tsunami along the coast”. We as EALA therefore see it fit to work with the United Nations to ensure that we are disaster resilient” she said.
Professor Laban Ogallo, Director of the Inter-Governmental Authority on Drought Climate Prediction and Applications Centre (ICPAC) and one of the keynote speakers at the consultation called for a co-ordinated approach in management of disasters. “Lets have personalized policy approach for different disasters, lets look into why past disasters that we could have avoided happened, and why we have not been successful in mitigating regional disasters,” Prof Ogallo noted.
In East Africa, countries remain vulnerable to the impact of disasters triggered by floods and drought. Climate change contributes to the recurrence of severe drought in the region. The impact of floods and drought among other disasters, has not only posed a great threat to people’s lives and livelihoods, but also derails the process towards the achievement of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
The recurrent impacts of disasters’ often result in increased numbers of people with less access to healthcare and fresh drinking water. In addition, it leads to a situation where more resources which were meant for development, have to be re-allocated to disaster relief.
The two day consultation is therefore focused towards building and increasing political will and leadership in building disaster-resilient progress towards the MDG’s. The expected results of the two- day consultation include:
1. Better understanding of the progress and challenges in disaster risk reduction in East Africa, Increased understanding of disaster risk reduction and its links with socio-economic development, especially with the MDG initiative.
2. Increased understanding of disaster risk reduction and its links with socio economic development and MDG initiatives.
3. Roles and responsibilities of politicians identified in using disaster risk reduction as a tool for climate change adaptation, promoting disaster resilient schools, hospitals, and poverty reduction and investment in disaster risk reduction.
4. Way forward towards finalization of the draft model legislation for East African countries.
The meeting, which is a joint initiative between the EALA and the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR), shall also review the progress, challenges of parliamentary initiatives on disaster risk reduction in East Africa.
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For more information contact: Bobi Odiko, Senior Public Relations Officer, East African Legislative Assembly, AICC Building, Ngorongoro Wing, 2nd Floor, P.O. Box 1096 Arusha, Tanzania, Tel: +255-27-2508240 Fax: +255-27-2503103, Cell: +255-787-870945 +254-733-718036
Email: BOdiko@eachq.org Web: https://www.eala.org
