Windhoek, Namibia- Ahead of the Ninth Session of the Africa Regional Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (AfRP-9), a critical discussion to improve Africa’s disaster preparedness ensued. The discussion highlighted the need for strengthening early warning systems in the continent. In attendance was the Deputy Prime Minister of Namibia, John Mutorwa emphasized the need for practical and accessible tools that help communities react quickly to impending disasters.
Speaking on Monday the 21st of October, 2024, Mutorwa said, “Africa needs plans and mechanisms that are fit for purpose and can be understood by early warning system users.”
Mutorwa urged African leaders to advance the swift implementation of the 2023–2027 Action Plan to ensure its success. He also said that the continent is interconnected and urged decision-makers to explore ways that can accelerate the adoption of early warning systems across the continent.
Accordingly, Agnes Lawrence Kijazi, Director of the Regional Office for Africa, World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said that the continent needs to enhance information sharing to effectively ascertain risk management.
Kijazi asserted the imperative need to enhance early warning systems in Africa. She also stated that the need for continuous stakeholder involvement.
The forum also underscored the critical role of early warning systems in reducing the impact of disasters such as floods, droughts, and wildfires.
While some progress has been made in establishing early warning systems across the continent, a 2023 report noted that 40% of the population has access to early warning systems.
Kamal Kishore, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for DRR, and Head, of the UN Office for DRR (UNDRR) urged Africa to cooperate and collaborate to prevent risks from becoming disasters.
Whether the continent will act on his advice remains to be seen, but with a string of recent catastrophic disasters already devastating Africa, the urgency for action has never been clearer.
Early this year there was unprecedented rainfall in large parts of the Sahel and East Africa regions which resulted in flooding in Nigeria, Niger, Chad, Cameroon, some parts of Tanzania, Uganda, and largely in Kenya. However, the collective effort was not necessarily put in place as each state was left to fend on its own.
There are bouts of renewed optimism for collaborative efforts among African nations to protect their citizens from the escalating threats of natural disasters as the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) champions initiatives like the AfRP-9 forum.