The Southern Africa-Indian Ocean (SAIO) region is one of the most disaster-prone regions in the world. The EU, through DG ECHO, has continuously supported DRR interventions in SAIO region since 2008. In 2019, EU has notably provided €7 million to increase the preparedness capacity of communities and authorities such as through early warning capacity and innovative approaches (i.e. drones and bulk mobile text messaging) as well as Education in Emergencies (EiE) and promotion of safe learning facilities and Safe Hospitals.
With support from the Finnish Red Cross, Borja Cuervo Alonso, IRMA Associate and former regional ECHO TA for SAIO, together with Lezlie Moriniere, Founding partner of IRMA, facilitated a Regional Workshop on Disaster Preparedness for 150 ECHO partners in Johannesburg, South Africa in November 2019. The objective of the workshop was to discuss how ECHO and its partners can contribute to improving Disaster Preparedness in SAIO region.
This workshop focused on rapid onset natural hazards in Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique and Zimbabwe, though participants from other countries (Botswana, Comoros, Eswatini, Mauritius, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa). In additional to ECHO partners, Disaster Management Authorities and SADC DRR Unit and academic institutions researching Disaster Preparedness also presented their progress and priorities.
