The need to improve strategies to deal with natural disasters and extreme weather conditions has come under the spotlight at the Disaster Management Indaba held on Wednesday in Johannesburg.
The two-day indaba, held by South Africa's Department of Provincial and Local Government (DPLG) together with the National Disaster Management Center, is aimed at urging relevant stakeholders to "gear up" to and be prepared for natural and human-induced disasters. said Lindiwe Msengana-Ndlela, DPLG Director General.
She said while extreme weather conditions seemed to be on the increase in certain parts of the country, there was a need to develop strategies to deal with such disasters.
The event is being held at a time when climate change and global warming were occupying the minds of governments all over the world, she said.
Different approaches are needed in different areas within a national framework that is embedded in the Disaster Management Act of 2003.
"Gearing up can only be achieved through the strengthening of multi-sectoral and multi-disciplinary partnerships," she said.
"These partnerships must be strengthened and include communities, non-governmental organizations, the private sector, government and research institutions," she added.
She expected the indaba to produce practical interventions and strategies in order to prevent, mitigate and minimize the impact of disasters.
Source:Xinhua
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