DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Most of the disasters of natural origin in the Greater Horn of Africa (GHA) are climate related. The climate related disasters often have far reaching socio-economic implications in the region and some of them sometimes retard national economic grown backwards by several years. Optimum use of climate information and early warning products can be used to reduce the negative impacts of climate extremes and take maximum advantage of the good years. Climate information can also be used to improve crucial decisions required in all the components of an integrated disaster management namely early warning, prevention, mitigation, preparedness, relief and rescue, rehabilitation and reconstruction.
The major goal of this section therefore is to enhance the capacity of all climate sensitive sectors and general livelihoods in GHA to reduce climate related risks through enhanced use of climate information, prediction and early warning products. The major activities of the section during the period 2005 – 2010 include:
- Contribute to the IGAD disaster risk management programme.
- Develop climate data / information base required for risk mapping and assessment
- Development of the specific products required by disaster management institutions
- Develop framework for timely availability and dissemination of climate information and prediction / early warning products required by specific sectors, stakeholders and the public.
- Multi disciplinary capacity building of the relevant national and regional public institutions in partnership with relevant disaster management institutions.
- Support the integration of climate information and products in the national / regional disaster risk reduction initiatives and policies.
- Enhance regional / national capacity in Risk / vulnerability zoning and assessments.
- Raise awareness on how to cope with climate related risks.
- Education and awareness on how to live with climate related risks.
- Develop and implement new training programmes / curriculum on various aspects of disaster management.
- Sensitive and work with other partners to demonstrate some of the good traditional environment and disaster management practices in the region.
- Collaborations with all relevant national, regional and international bodies working on various environmental and disaster risk reduction challenges. «top
