By Chancy Namadzunda:
The Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA) is developing the national multi-hazard contingency plan in readiness for the 2022/23 rainfall season.
According to Commissioner for Disaster Management Affairs, Charles Kalemba, the plan is in response to the Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services (DCCMS) 2022/23 rainfall seasonal forecast which projects that most areas will experience normal to above normal rainfall which will trigger the occurrence of flash floods in disaster prone areas.
He was speaking on Thursday in Dedza at Gosheni Primary School during the commemoration of the International Day for Disaster Reduction (IDDR).
“With effects of climate change taking centre stage, the magnitude and frequency of disasters that occur during the rainy season tend to be so alarming and catastrophic.
“The national multi-hazard contingency plan in readiness for the season is to guide the response interventions for any type of disaster we may experience. The department has also equipped councils with skills in developing people-centred contingency plans,” he said
Kalemba said DoDMA is also stockpiling relief items in strategic areas to ensure timely assistance to the affected population.
“Apart from having three warehouses that stock relief items in Ntcheu, Lilongwe and Blantyre, the department, withtechnical and financial support from the World Food Programme, coordinatedthe establishment of a humanitarian staging area (HSA) at Bangula; in Nsanje District to fast-track coordination and response to disasters in the Lower Shire.
“The HSA has in stock search and rescue equipment such as boats and relief items for timely and effective response.The department, in collaboration with the DCCMS, will conduct awareness and sensitization campaigns on the prospects and implications of the 2022/2023 downscaled seasonal forecast targeting councils in disaster prone areas.
“DoDMA also has standby arrangements for deployment of search and rescue teams comprising the Malawi Defence Force, The Malawi Police Service, The Marine Department, the Malawi Red Cross Society (MRCS) and other stakeholders, if need arises,” he said
MRCS Director of Programs Prisca Chisala said as partners to government, they are working towards supporting the department to disseminate the weather forecast to all the districts.
“A key message is encouraging the households living in disaster prone areas to move to higher and safer places. This remains paramount as a preparedness action.
“We are also working with the Department of Disaster Management (DoDMA) to review the contingency plans which will be critical in supporting preparedness actions at different levels. It is our duty to ensure that the communities are prepared ahead of the forecasted weather and that they take the most timely required action,” she said
Chisala said some of the activities being implemented at community level are; building the capacity of training of civil protection structures at all levels committees, provision of early warning equipment to enhance prompt action and undertaking simulation activities to measure the level of our preparedness.
“This year’s commemoration therefore brings together experiences on how best we can work, coordinate in preparing, mitigating and responding to emerging disasters. But also going beyond to build resilience among the communities.
“We have learnt from the previous disasters especially the 2022 tropical storm Ana and cyclone Gombe on how early warning had helped to save lives. This can be testified from the reduction in the lives that were lost especially in the areas where an early action was taken.
“It is high time therefore we started investing more resources in preparedness actions so that in the event of disasters, we should be able to act in most effective and efficient manner.
“It is a call to everyone to take part in the processes as disasters have become more prevalent each and every year. We have to work as a team and focus on complementing one another where resources be it finances and technical expertise are into the most effective manner.
“The cluster system that is coordinated by DoDMA had always helped us to work together as one unit and we request all the actors in the Disaster management to value the collaboration through these clusters and to make sure of our active participation in the same,” she said
