A unit for the prevention of risks and the management of disasters has been launched and inaugurated in the Far North Region. The unit was inaugurated on Thursday, 10 July, 2014 in Maroua during a ceremony that was chaired by the Secretary General at the Far North Governors’ office, Ribouem Moungam Louis Florent, in the presence of Jean Pierre Nana, Director of Civil Protection all from the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Decentralisation, MINATD.

An important stock of computer materials and office equipment, amounting to US 24,634 dollars, was donated to the unit by the United Nations Population Fund, PNFPA, to better prevent risks and manage disasters in the Region.

According to a communiqué, the action has as objective to equip local actors with essential equipment aimed at ameliorating the prevention of natural crisis that have always occurred.

It further states that “this regional unit for the prevention of risks and disasters is the first of its kind consecrated to coordinate and put in place civil protection measures that will efficiently cover the territory”. Reasons why, the Direction of Civil Protection of MINATD is accompanying the structure to put in place effective working tools.

Reports states that this was was motivated by the increased phenomenon of insecurity at the frontier zones and the influx of refugees from neighboruing countries on the one hand, and the worsening of previous risks like floods, drought, and health risks.

For some years now, the Far North Region has been in the spotlight due to natural disasters like floods, droughts, epidemics, amongst others. This has called for not only emergency works carried out to curtail future floods but also necessitated increased precautions put in the health sector, to carter for the health situation of the population and now we have this unit to prevent risks and manage disasters.