UN, Dodma embark on cities disaster preparedness, response project

UNDP, UN Habitat and Department of Disaster Management Affairs Dodma have embarked on a new project to help cities in preparing and responding to disasters

The two year project from 2023 to 2024 valued at 1.8 million dollars is funded by European Union

The project aims to enhance capacity of city councils to prepare and respond to disasters in the targeted cities where close to 80 percent of Malawi’s urban population resides

UNDP resident representative Shigeki Komatsubara said although the country cannot control occurrences of natural hazards it is possible to reduce its impact and ensure that livelihoods are protected using inclusive disaster preparedness strategies that leave no one behind

Komatsubara says some of the activities that the project will undertake include training key stakeholders, developing multi hazard plans for cities like evacuation routes, establishing community based early warning systems and clearing solid waste in drainage networks

The new project will also ensure that immediate and lifesaving needs of vulnerable people affected by disasters in the targeted cities are timely addressed