By Precious D Freeman
The National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA), with support from Action against Hunger (ACF), through the Start Network Liberia Flood Anticipatory Tool (2023) project, has embarked on a three-day review and validation of the National Early Warning and Emergency Operation Center Standard Operating Procedure (NEWEOC SOP).
The workshop, ongoing at the office of the NDMA, has brought together several staffers from different ministries in order to participate.
Speaking at the opening, the Executive Director of NDMA, Henry O. Williams, explained that the objective of the workshop is to strengthen the flood anticipatory alert system and provide accurate rainfall forecast information and provide timely alerts.
According to him, the objective also includes approving and disseminating SOP for the NEWEOC, to strengthen interagency coordination, to strengthen NDMA’s capacity to manage the tool platform, improve the functionality of the early warning system, and to finalize and validate the NEWEOC standard operation procedures, among others.
He added that the Start Network is there to make the NDMA very effective and functioning of the National Emergency Operatory Center.
“People may say that there is a little distraction during the campaigning period, but we at the Disaster Agency are seriously working and responding to issues in several parts of Liberia, including Arthington, Caldwell, and Omega areas, among others,” he said.
He emphasized that he cherished their involvement and also thanked the partners for making the operation of the NDMA very crucial to the development boost of the government.
Mr. Williams explained that when disaster strikes, especially in Liberia, most of those affected are mostly from the poor sector, and if they are not catered to, it increases the poverty rate.
“We are working with a system to produce situational report to partners, for them to know what is happening in the disaster sector, such as the total number of citizens affected by flood, fire, windstorm, erosion, among others,” he said.
The NDMA boss maintained that the situational reports have been sent to partners but they are yet to respond, adding that when the government is taking initiative, partners need to follow, which will help the NDMA in the prevention and mitigation of disaster issues.
Meanwhile, he expressed his appreciation to their partner, the Action against Hunger, for their continuous support given to the Agency.
