‘Flood risk management knowledge crucial’

Department of Disaster and Management Affairs (Dodma) has said it is crucial for committees working in disaster management to be knowledgeable on flood risk management so that they assist in preventing possible effects of flooding.

Dodma chief relief and rehabilitation officer Dyce Nkhoma said this on the sidelines of a two-day Community-based Flood Risk Management training for Civil Protection Committees (CPCs) drawn from Traditional Authority (T/A) Mlolo in Nsanje at Nchalo in Chikwawa on Monday.

He said communities fail to identify right interventions that would help them to control possible effects of water flooding because of lack of knowledge.

Said Nkhoma: “It is imperative for members of civil protection committees to understand issues pertaining to preparedness as they are first respondents of any disaster occurrence.

“We feel that civil protection committees become vibrant in responding to disasters if they are given the necessary knowledge. It is against this background that we organised the training so that they can be provided with the necessary knowledge on how to manage flooding risks.”

One of the participants during the training, Rex Dausi, who is also Mlolo Area Civil Protection Committee chairperson, said the training was an eye-opener and promised to use the knowledge in their respective areas.

“The knowledge gained will help us in planning, prevention and managing flood risks and ensure that floods should not affect the communities negatively,” he said.