A five-day regional contingency development plan workshop recently ended at Sanyang Nature Camp in Kombo South district of the West Coast Region.
The workshop, which brought together 25 stakeholders in the Western Region, was organised by FAO in partnership with the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA), and funded by FASDEP Technical Assistance Component.
Speaking at the meeting, the Regional Disaster Coordinator of WCR, Binta Sey Jadama, said the exercise was held to develop a comprehensive contingency plan for the region to enhance preparedness.
She called on participants to fully participate for the interest of the people of the region.
Deputy Executive Director NDMA, Serign Modou Joof underscored the importance of the forum, saying the document
would help reduce the maximum extent possible adverse of impact of an anticipated disaster on the affected population and also to ensure that when required, a coordinated humanitarian response becomes effective.
He further told participants that the contingency planning was preparedness tool used to enhance effective and coordinated response.
He therefore called on all to take responsibility and ownership of the document.
The FAO/FASDEP monitoring and evaluation officer, Nurudeen Bah, noted that the regional contingency plan would be a living working document that would be used not only for its implementation but for quick response.
According to him, the document would improve local disaster risk planning and preparation and strengthen household coping strategies, while assuring the participants of his office readiness to support and strengthen the structure of the National Disaster Management Agency.
