The Central Equatoria state government held a consultation workshop on disaster risk management policy to help responders identify and handle hazards.
The workshop was attended by representatives from all the six counties of Central Equatoria, civil society, womens associations, and experts from UN agencies.
Speaking at the workshop’s opening ceremonia at the Regency Hotel in Juba Tuesday, Mary Apayi, State Minister of Gender and Social Development, said that a clear and strong policy is needed so the nation is prepared to mitigate disasters.
“We all know that the republic of South Sudan is the place where there are a number of natural hazards like floods, droughts, tsetse flies, waterborne diseases, transit borderlines, animal diseases, and conflicts, which are not expected,” she said.
“Nobody expected disaster but disasters come, and these hazards may turn into natural disasters at anytime anywhere and cause severe impact on vulnerable peoples’ lives and livelihood in particular women, children, and the elderly persons,” Apayi added.
She said it is vital to prepare and improve the state and counties to respond to hazards.
Bani Joshua, Director General in the National Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, encouraged workshop participants to use the chance to get the knowledge they need to mitigate the effects of disasters at the grassroots.
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Radio Tamazuj Photo: Mary Apayi, CES Minister of Gender and Social Development