Neno District Council Drilled in Disaster Risk Management

Members of the Neno District Council have been called upon to strengthen coordination and communication with Village and District Civil Protection Committees in a bid to reduce risks in times of disaster.

Beyond Our Hearts Foundation through Save the Children-Italy drilled the committees on Thursday in how best to respond to disasters as the rainy season approaches.

Neno District Civil Protection chairperson Sambani Tobias says lack of trainings and resources among most Village Civil Protection Committees (VCPCs) is affecting timely response to disasters.

He says, most of the times, they just see people from the council coming with relief items which are also not in conformity with figures presented by the committee.

“We appeal to our council to collaborate with us, starting from the village level to district level, so that what they present to the Department of Disaster Management Affairs the real picture on the ground,” said Sambani.

He further asked for the authorities to desist from corruption in the distribution of relief items saying most affected people are omitted on the list, which is prompting people to have mistrust in the VCPC and DCPS’s.

Beyond Our Hearts Foundation Projects Officer Pemphoro Nkhata says the lack of coordination and communication has a huge bearing on people’s lives and property, adding the Neno District Council and the disaster committee should work together to achieve a common goal.

In response, district council disaster office representative Maxwell Sweet acknowledged of the coordination and communication gap but has assured the committees that they will equip them with necessary resources to execute their tasks effectively.

“The gaps are indeed there but we are here to work on them together with our colleagues. We believe by the end of the day, we will be able to respond well to disasters,” he commented.

Sweet further said that as a measure to counter any possible disaster during this year’s rainy season, they have already intensified awareness campaigns in areas where disasters often struck.

Beyond Our Hearts Foundation through Save the Children- Italy organised the daylong orientation meeting with the committees as a way of identifying gaps and solutions in disaster risk management.

Neno is often hit by strong winds and dry spells, mainly in the areas of Felemu, Dambe and Lisungwi.

Credits: Zodiak Online

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