The DRC and Malawi signed this Thursday, May 25, the memorandum of understanding for the creation of a center for humanitarian and emergency operations, for the prevention and management of disasters. The signing took place during the meeting of Southern African Development Community (SADC) Ministers responsible for Home Affairs and Disaster Management, chaired by the Chairman of the SADC Committee of Ministers, Peter Kazadi, and in which eleven of the sixteen Member States of the community participated.
During this meeting, the participants reflected on ways to prevent the various disasters and manage the resulting risks at the SADC level. Mr. Kazadi encouraged member states to sign the memorandum of understanding in order to materialize the common desire to provide the region with a humanitarian intervention unit in the event of a disaster.
Since disasters are often unpredictable and cross-border, the pooling of efforts is necessary to improve operations to prepare for and respond to these events. The creation of this center for humanitarian and emergency operations is therefore a step forward in disaster management in southern Africa.
Meeting of SADC ministers responsible for interior and disaster management highlights importance of regional cooperation to enhance crisis preparedness and response