Stakeholders in disaster and risk management from UN agencies in Cameroon as well as government agencies started meeting in Yaounde recently to analyse the different kinds of risks caused by climatic, environmental, terrorist, health and socio-economic hazards in a bid to propose a joint contingency plan of action.

Organised by the Department of Civil Protection in the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Decentralisation and the Office of the Resident Coordinator of the United Nations System in Cameroon, the workshop’s deliberations are anchored on guidelines contained in the Emergency Response Preparedness Package adopted in 2015 by the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC).

While opening the workshop on behalf of the Ministry of the Territorial Administration and Decentralisation, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Pierre Essomba underscored the gathering’s importance, given the emergency situations confronting the country at the moment.

As examples, he mentioned volcanic eruptions, floods, fire disasters, road accidents, refugee influx and health epidemics, amongst others while outlining government’s efforts through its National Civil Protection System and a National Contingency Plan.

He hoped participants will update the existing risks inventory and propose workable joint intervention mechanisms.

One of the facilitators from United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Max Schott, said the joint evaluation of joint actions will lead to a better and more coordinated response.

“The goal is to better serve the people in need of assistance,” he stated. The opening ceremony was attended by the Resident Coordinator of the UN System in Cameroon, Najat Rochdi.