Disaster Management Institute of Southern Africa ver2.0

Disaster Risk Reduction 2006
Conference Resolutions [download] Disaster Risk Reduction 2006: 13-14 September 2006 Africa�s largest annual disaster management conference returns to Hartenbos on the scenic Garden Route in the Western Cape, from 13-14 September 2006. The internationally recognized annual Disaster Management Conference for Africa, presented by the Disaster Management Institute of Southern Africa, a professional body recognized by SALGA and the UN/ISDR.
Conference Resolutions
CONFERENCE RESOLUTIONS: DISASTER RISK REDUCTION 2006 We, delegates to the Disaster Management Institute of Southern Africa Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction 2006, have gathered from 13 to 14 September 2006 at the ATKV Resort, Mossel Bay. We express our sincere condolences and sympathy to all who have been negatively impacted on by disasters and major incidents which have caused death, injury and destruction. We commend the efforts of all agencies, government, provincial, municipal, non-governmental agencies and stakeholders who, through constant effort and persistence, are making positive inputs into reducing disaster risk. We commend the efforts of all response agencies that have made efforts to return disaster situations to �normality�. We are convinced that continued pressure on National Government Departments will result in the function of disaster management, as required by legislation, being elevated to the correct level within their hierarchical structure with the ultimate goal being the placement of the function at the national, provincial and municipal level being in the office of the President, Premier and Executive Mayor or Mayor as the case may be. We note with great concern that the appointment of the Head of the National Disaster Management Centre has not be concluded. We urge the National Minister responsible, to appoint the Head of the Centre, ensuring that the appointed person has the necessary experience and qualifications in the field of Disaster Management to execute the legislative requirements. We urge all National Ministries to include disaster risk reduction as a core component of their ministerial responsibilities in an effort to ensure education of their employees and their constituents (residents of South Africa, scholars, etc) in risk reduction and disaster prevention. We especially urge the National Minister of Education to include disaster risk reduction into the realm of the school curriculum so as to develop future adults who are able to identify hazardous situations within their own community and ways of reducing the disaster risk through proper application of sustainable developmental practices. We call on the National Minister for Provincial and Local government to fast track the development of standards for the following: 1. Qualifications required for the appointment of Disaster Management officials at the various spheres of government, 2. Application standards for disaster reduction e.g. standardized technology, systems and process, 3. Policies for the implementation of disaster reduction initiatives, and 4. Guidelines for implementation of all relevant legislation. We note with concern the high level of stresses and burnout being experienced by the employees in various emergency services and strongly urge the Ministers of Health and Provincial and Local Government to institute programmes to ensure that emergency workers, especially those faced with traumatic events of a daily basis, are provided with adequate trauma counseling in order for them to live productive lives within their family units. We strongly urge Government to finalise the Safety at Sports and Recreational Events Bill and clearly indicate the role of the Municipal Disaster Management Centre and officials in order to ensure that all events classified under this legislation are undertaken within a safe framework which roles over to the 2010 World Cup. We express our appreciation to the Disaster Management Institute of Southern Africa for arranging another successful conference aimed at information transfer of disaster reduction initiatives through the management of disaster risk, prevention and preparedness activities based on sustainable development principles.


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