Forecasts Show Heavy Rains for Senegal, Mali and Burkina Faso
The UN agency said this is why 'special attention' was paid to these three countries at a consultation on floods and disaster ended Friday in Cotonou, Benin.
It said participants to this Fifth Regional Consultation on floods and disaster preparedness concluded their discussions, stressing the necessity of learning from the 2010 flooding, as well as the importance of information and data gathering and sharing in the field of preparedness and early warning.
Participants adopted the terms of reference of the Regional Committee of disaster management in West Africa (GECEAO) and elected an Executive Office to follow up the implementation of the Annual Action plans yet to be adopted.
The forum discussed lessons learnt from the 2010 flooding, based on various case studies such as Benin, Ghana or Togo and stressed the necessity of strengthening cooperation at both national and international levels, as well as between relevant organizations; speed up responses; and increase actors’ capacities.
The Consultation was organized jointly by OCHA and the International Federation of the Red Cross with the support of ECOWAS and the Government of Benin.
Participants included representatives of Civil Defence and the national Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies of 14 of the 15 ECOWAS Members and Mauritania, as well as Experts from specialized agencies, humanitarian Donors and NGOs.
Tweet
