Harare, (New Ziana) – Southern African Development Community (SADC) ministers in charge of Disaster Risk Management (DRM) convene in Victoria Falls on Wednesday to review progress on the implementation of regional disaster management activities and programmes to strengthen the region’s preparedness and response to disasters.
In a statement, the regional bloc’s secretariat said the ministers are also set to discuss modalities for the operationalisation of its Humanitarian and Emergency Operations Centre (SHOC) as well as to review progress made towards the operationalisation of the Regional Appeal for Humanitarian Assistance launched by the Angolan President, Joao Manuel Goncalves Lourenco in his capacity as SADC chairman in May this year.
“The Committee of Ministers Responsible for Disaster Risk Management (DRM) from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) will meet in Victoria Falls, Republic of Zimbabwe, on 27 November 2024. During the meeting, ministers will review progress on the implementation of regional disaster management activities and programmes aimed at strengthening the region’s preparedness and response to disasters,” said the statement.
The launch of the appeal for aid, said the statement, follows the negative impacts of the El Nino induced drought and floods that negatively affected the lives and livelihoods of an estimated 58 million people in SADC countries that provided data.
The ministers will further consider an Addendum to the Regional Appeal that has been prepared following the finalisation of vulnerability assessments by additional Member States that had not finalised their assessments at the time the appeal was launched in May, said the statement.
The meeting will be officially opened and chaired by Zimbabwe’s minister of Local Government and Public Works, Daniel Garwe in his capacity as the chairman of the Committee of SADC Ministers responsible for Risk Management, who will be supported by SADC deputy executive secretary responsible for regional integration, Angele Makombo N’tumba standing in for SADC executive secretary Elias Magosi.
New Ziana