Loading ...
Liberian Disaster Management Officials in Freetown for Training
By Mambu James Kpargoi, Monrovia
Seven staffers of the Liberia National Red Cross Society (LNRCS) and the Ministry of Internal Affairs will this week join colleagues from Sierra Leone and Nigeria in Freetown, the Sierra Leonean capital, for a capacity- building training aimed at strengthening sustainable disaster management structures in the three National Societies.
The training, which is organized by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and the Swedish Civil Contingency Agency (MSB), is part of a three- year West Africa Disaster Management Capacity-Building project for institutional development and cross- border disaster management cooperation in three national societies in West Africa.
From May 19 – 21 participants will attend a trainer of trainers’ workshop while beginning May 24 – 28 they will participate in an advance Disaster Management training. Those attending the training from Liberia are G. Ambullai Perry, Director for Disaster Management, LNRCS; Christopher Johnson, LNRCS’ Disaster Management Supervisor; Marion Kangbaye, LNRCS’ DM Assistant and Marian Swope, Field Officer, LNRCS’ Nimba Chapter. Others are Moses Yeahzean, LNRCS’ Branch Coordinator for Tappita District, Nimba County; Louise K.D. Davis, Coordinator, National Disaster Relief Commission and Thomas Suah, MIA County Inspector for Nimba County.
The objective of the West Africa Disaster Management Capacity-Building Project is centered on improving and strengthening the National Societies disaster management capacities in risk reduction-mitigation, preparedness, and response. It calls for concerted cooperation between the partners including the IFRC, Swedish Red Cross, Swedish Civil Contingency Agency and the three National Societies.
In Liberia, the project is now at the Activity 5 level which calls for the development of an Early Warning System and identifying a pilot community. Already, Nimba County has been identified for the pilot of the Early Warning System (EWS) development and implementation. Nimba was selected due to its vulnerability to disaster, especially flood and storm.
In June 2009, two guests from the MSB visited the LNRCS on a mission to begin the development of the EWS and to model a country action plan for the Liberian Red Cross.
Editor @ May 19, 2010