Red Cross Engaged With Disaster And Preparedness Management
By kyeyune Ali._
On, Tuesday 20th, September 2022, at the Imperial Royale Hotel in Kampala, Uganda, the Red Cross Society engaged with officials from the office of the Prime Minister, mainly in the disaster and preparedness management department, to discuss matters concerning natural occurrences. Also in these discussions were some Members of Parliament.
In recent days, Uganda has faced natural occurrences in Mbale, Kapchorwa and other neighbouring districts, and a number of lives were lost. People in Karamoja are also faced with a problem of famine as result of the prolonged drought in northern part of Uganda.
As a result of all those incidents, Red Cross Society have started to put up measures in order to mitigate the problems and adapt for times of disaster all across the country.
“Rain cannot cause floods but [we] humans are the key cause floods in the country. For instance, if the government put up good water channels and built standard bridges, this would make water flow, and this will reduce or [totally] eliminate floods,” the chairman of the Red Cross Society, Mr Lawrence Nsonga, said.
Mr Nsonga also added that deforestation should be reduced and the government should enforce afforestation in different parts of the country.
Mr Raymond Kirungi, an official from the Office of the Prime Minister, particularly in the department for Disaster and Preparedness Management said that as government, through Uganda National Intervated Early Warning System Bulletin, they have managed to sensitise people through media channels, though it wasn’t so effective.
Mr Kirungi however adds that all people are concerned in the effort to curb and mitigate this challenge of disastrous natural occurrences.
As per Mr Kirungi, natural occurrences can’t be eliminated but we can adapt to them and put up strong measures.