The Malawi government is certain that the level of harm caused by this year’s worst flash floods would be significantly reduced if similar floods happen again anytime in future.
Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation hon Dr. George Chaponda has uttered the comment following his return from Japan where he attended the Third UN Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction where among other things he said, Malawi has learn a lot from other countries that had similar experience of floods.
The conference, reviewed progress made in the implementation of Hyogo Framework of Action (HFA) and to consider and adopt its successor, Post-2015 Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.
Speaking on Thursday evening at a Press Conference at Capital Hill, Chaponda emphasized that it was necessary for Malawi to attend the summit following recent experience of floods which has left over 230 thousand people displaced as well as damages on property, crops and infrastructure.
“It became necessary to see what we would learn from this UN conference and also share experience with other countries that have been experiencing these issues.” He said, and assured that “It was a good learning experience”
“Agreement from the frameworks will help us to develop resilient measures so that when similar disaster happens again, we should not experience deaths and other serious damages” said Chaponda
The Foreign Affairs Minister, explained that the UN summit has given Malawi an opportunity to among others adopt new techniques on building good houses that can withstand flooding water, measures in dealing with affected people and use of modern metrological technologies that can detect and give early warnings of disaster occurrences.
He added that through JAICA, the Japanese government plans to assist Malawi in dealing with issues of water movements particularly in some parts of Lower Shire which are frequent with floods.
According to Chaponda, the conference also adopted the first major agreement of the Post-2015 Development Agenda, a far-reaching new framework for disaster risk reduction with seven targets which if successfully implemented, countries will achieve a substantial reduction of disaster risk and losses in lives, livelihoods and health.
Some of the targets are a substantial reduction in; global disaster mortality, numbers of affected people, damage to critical infrastructure and disruption of basic services; increased access to multi-hazard early warning systems and disaster information and assessments as well as enhanced international cooperation.
After attending the conference, Chaponda had several meetings with companies and governments where he invited them to assist and invest in Malawi.
After finishing his business in Japan, the Minister went to Namibia where he attended inauguration ceremony of President Hage Geingob.
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