By Binta Jaiteh
National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) has reviewed the National Multi-Hazard Contingency Plan to reduce the maximum extent possible of adverse impact of an anticipated disaster on the affected population.
The two-day workshop held at Senegambia Beach Hotel also helped coordinated response which will maximize gaps in humanitarian response
Speaking during the opening, Sana Dahaba, executive director of National Disaster Management, said: “we gathered here to review the national contingency multi-hazard plan more commonly called the National contingency plan that serves as blueprint for preparing for and responding to disasters in the Gambia.”
According him, “the plan is expected to boost the nation’s efforts to develop response capability and promote overall coordination for an anticipated disaster in the Gambia as per the implementation of plan. The review of the plan is developed with multi-stakeholders’ involvement addressing hazards at both Regional and National levels.”
He noted that the present contingency plan outlines the history of disasters in The Gambia and the projected likely trend, given the historical perspective adding that it also identified the main contingencies for pre and post emergence in the Gambia through multi-sectoral approach.
The document, he said, is expected to further recognize the fact that the contingency plan is a tool to enhance the effective disaster preparations and risk reduction, while NDMA being the coordinating institution remains committed to ensuring that the humanitarian response which aims at mitigating the adverse impact of the identified hazards on the people in addition will enhance effective preparedness and response.
Ms. Seraphine Wakana, UN Resident Coordinator stated that the Gambia is prone to a variety of hazards and has been experiencing recurrent disasters for over several years especially with the increasing impact of climate change.
“In fact, the UN Common Country Analysis (CCA) which is the UN systems joint analysis of the development challenges the country is facing shows that the intensity and frequency of these disasters have increased progressively leading to floods and occasional droughts and affecting the lives and livelihood of communities and households.
“This is leading to more land and resource-based conflicts due to an increase in informal settlements (slums) the analysis also shows that the disasters threaten the long-term economic stability of the country by determining food, security leading to higher food prices at a time when household’s food security status is already threatened by the COVID 19,” she said.
Wakana commended the Government and all partners for their efforts made to provide relief assistance to save the lives of people hit by the disasters at the time we have also learned over the years that preparedness and preemptive actions are better than response.
However, with the increasing climate shocks and pandemic it is crucial for national actors to ‘own’ the updated national contingency plan new regional contingency by familiarizing.
