China Dodovu appeals for Disaster Risk Reduction Plan

MEC for Local Government and Traditional Affairs China Dodovu has called for the formulation of Disaster Risk Reduction Programme of Action that will curb the occurrence of devastating effects of disaster in different localities, thereby creating safer and disaster resilient communities. Dodovu was addressing delegates from different corners of the globe during the opening of a Southern Africa Society for Disaster Reduction - First Biennial Conference held at the Potchefstroom campus of North West University yesterday.

“It is a matter of common knowledge that disasters have become a stumbling block to sustainable development in South Africa, Africa and the world. The ramifications of some of the disasters are so dire that the affected community cannot deal with it within the confines of its own resources.” Dodovu said.

According to Dodovu having a comprehensive disaster reduction plan can assist many communities to avoid disaster occurrence. “Due to lack of planning on our part we are the creators of some of the disaster we see around the world. Our inability to collectively take ownership of the early warning systems as emitted by our technology and lack of appropriate action put many communities at risk” he said.

South Africa, as a member of the global village has aligned itself with the United Nations call for countries to make disaster reduction part of the national, provincial and local development planning processes.

Dodovu is of the view that an integrated approach is the key to disaster reduction. “The kind of brains gathered here in the conference would agree with me that this is a kind of effort that requires a multi-sectoral and multi-disciplinary approach where government, private sector, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and communities work together to assuage the risk of disaster and help lessen the impact of such” he said.

I hope your deliberations here will produce a tangible programme of action that will convince policy makers to correct some of the wrongs you may identify. On the same breath the conference must also find a way on how to collectively assist disaster victims to rise from the ashes or washes and to rebuild their own lives after an unwelcomed disastrous visit” he said.

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