Must hosts UK-Malawi disaster management workshop
Malawi University of Science and Technology (Must) is hosting a five-day international technical workshop on climate change and disaster resilience involving several universities both in Malawi and the UK.
Speaking during the opening ceremony on Monday, Must deputy vice-chancellor Professor Jonathan Makuwira said the workshop has brought together scientists, researchers and students to discuss and prepare for disasters.
“Universities are think-tanks and this workshop is important.
“We need to have instruments to prepare for the programmes in disaster management and resilience; hence, the coming in of the students to have first-hand information so that they are trained to diversify the skills,” he said.
University of Bristol reader Julliet Biggs said the workshop aims to develop integrated seismic risk assessment tools for East African countries by accounting for alternative hypotheses and uncertainties associated with hazards, exposure and vulnerability components.
“We aim to improve resilience of the impact of climate change that causes disasters. We are carrying out research and we have identified several faults through earthquakes and to improve the standard of buildings in Malawi,” she said.
Ndata School of Climate and Sciences executive dean Leonard Kalindekafe said Malawi should not continue losing more lives, especially in rural areas. Instead, he said the country needs to come up with research focusing on what type of buildings people should build and where they should be built to fit their pockets.
