Disaster Risk Reduction Workshop opens in Botswana

Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-13 03:22:57|Editor: Mu Xuequan
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GABORONE, Nov. 12 (Xinhua) -- UNDP has organized a 5-day disaster risk reduction workshop, which opened on Monday in Gaborone, the capital of Botswana.

The workshop themed 'Building Disaster Resilience to Natural Hazards in Botswana'.

Speaking at the 5-day workshop, Jacinta Barrins, UN Botswana Resident Coordinator, said there is evidence that disasters are increasing in Botswana and in the whole world at large.

"Botswana, like the rest of the world, is prone to disasters, particularly floods and droughts." Barrins said.

She said the effects impacted on people, communities and entire nations and it is becoming clearer that climate change is real, which is a wake up call that Botswana too needs to develop measures to counter its devastating effects.

Concurring on the need for countries to take into account the economic aspect of disasters, she noted that huge costs often come with addressing the effects of disasters.

However, Barrins urged countries not to lose sight of the fact that disasters are more than economic in nature as they are more about livelihoods and the general disruption to people's lives.

Meanwhile, Machana Shamukuni, Botswana Assistant Minister for Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Administration, said it remains critical for Batswana not to lose their lives and livelihoods to disasters that could be mitigated.

Shamukuni said there is therefore need for re-examination of the effectiveness of the disaster risk reduction strategies that Botswana has adopted.

The assistant minister said disasters have a significant negative impact on the lives and livelihoods of nations, adding that their nature, spread and cost, call for the commitment and participation of all stakeholders including governments, UN, private sector, NGOs, community-based organizations and local communities.

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