By Martin Chiwanda

Machinga, November 18, Mana: Machinga District Council Disaster Risk Management Officer, Shepherd Jere, has said disaster contingency plan is crucial in the management of disasters as it enhances the district’s preparedness and response capacities.

Jere made the sentiments during the district’s disaster contingency plan review workshop at Liwonde Community Development Centre in Balaka.

He said the disaster contingency plan is crucial, as it is a management tool used to analyze the impact of potential disasters and ensure that adequate and appropriate arrangements are made in advance to respond in a timely and appropriate way to the needs of affected population.

Jere reminded those taking part in the review that failing to complete a contingency plan renders the whole exercise fruitless.

“Effort should be made to finalize the contingency plan during the review workshop and clusters should ensure that they have collected all the required data before they start holding review workshops.

“Machinga District is yearly affected by disasters such as floods, dry spells, strong winds, Cholera and crop pests. We have since started registering some cases in some of the traditional authorities. Some communities have already started experiencing the effects of strong winds,” he said.

He observed that their district has experienced damage and losses on people’s livelihoods, adding that Machinga has been suffering losses and damages affecting agriculture, water and sanitation, education and trade.  

Jere, therefore, asked district stakeholders and communities to make use of the plan during or before disasters, noting: “It should not just gather dust in shelves but rather help us as DDRMC members to timely respond and assist the affected population within the required 24 hours of responding to a disaster.”

He also appealed to all sectors to have a disaster risk management to mainstream disasters in their programming of interventions and provide a report of what has been implemented in the contingency plan.

However, Jere urged reviewers of the disaster contingency plan to make realistic assumptions and budgets but also to involve communities and civil protection committees in all the processes including dissemination of the plan to enhance ownership and smooth implementation.

Machinga District Principal Nutrition, HIV and AIDS Officer, Autile Sanyira who is involved in the review meeting, said the plan is a benchmark for effective management of disaster preparedness activities and response.

“This review helps the district plan and allocate resources needed to prepare, respond and also recover from disaster when they occur. Therefore, it is right that every year we review the plans in accordance with the year’s weather seasonal forecast,” said Sanyira.