(Thursday 17 October 2019 Issue)
National
Disaster Management Agency (NDMA), with support from the United Nations, WFP,
ChildFund and The Gambia Government, Sunday joined the rest of the world in
observing International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction.
The
day is set aside to promote global culture of disaster reduction, including
disaster prevention, mitigation and preparedness as well as serve as an
opportunity to acknowledge the progress made towards reducing disaster risk,
lives loss and livelihoods.
The
day also reflects on how people and communities are coping with disasters
through the use of their own resources, awareness amongst others.
This
year’s theme is: Target D of the Sendai Framework: “Substantially reduce
disaster damage to critical infrastructure and disruption of basic services,
among them health and education facilities through developing their resilience
strategies by 2030.
Serign
Modou Joof, deputy executive director at NDMA in his remarks said his office
will continue to work with partner institutions to address the short and medium
term needs of those affected, consider the root causes and try to address them.
Mr.
Joof pointed out that The Gambia was among the first countries to make the
first reporting on the Sendai Monitor on the seven global targets, adding that
these efforts have contributed immensely to the reduction of disasters despite
challenges.
He
went on to say that despite all these efforts, NDMA still faces numerous
challenges in terms of resources to implement its programs in achieving the
national and international frameworks in the wake of reducing the impacts of
disasters of all forms.
Malang
Jammeh, Deputy Permanent Secretary Minister of Transport, Work and
Infrastructure commended NDMA for being proactive to promote disaster risk
management as well as described the day as a lesson to Gambians especially
youth, that they have a key role to play in disaster risk reduction.
He
said the frequency and destructive impact of disasters on our society continue
to increase today as hundreds of millions of people live at risk from the
threat of several natural and human induced disasters including rainstorms and
floods, droughts, fires, social conflicts and road accident.
He
stated that the need to build our resilience and reduce the vulnerability of
our society has become more crucial than ever, saying the major cause of
vulnerability in this country has been indiscipline in our construction
practices as people build in water ways, throw rubbish anywhere including water
bodies therefore blocking free flow of streams and also bring about diseases
leading to death.
He
called on youth of The Gambia is stand up and live above the indiscipline they
have inherited and strive to help this generation turn things around for a
brighter future.
Wanja
Kaaria, World Food Programme (WFP) Representative and Country Director said the
Gambia is no exception to experiencing recurrent disasters both natural and
human induced disaster over the past years.
“Disasters
are gateways to poverty and distress for many vulnerable people living in low
and middle-income countries, including The Gambia,’’ she stated.
