The National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) is sharping its emergency preparedness skills in case of a massive natural disaster that would merit international assistance.
To do this effectively, the European Union has offered assistance to NADMO in a simulation exercise to get procedures in place that would facilitate the arrival of international team to reduce fatalities.
Speaking with the media, the Deputy Director General of NADMO, Seji Saji said the exercise will enable the organisation to review it standards of operation and learn best practices pertaining to requesting international assistance.
The EU team made up of experts in humanitarian crisis assisted NADMO officials on how to deal with a major flooding that has displaced about 400 thousand people with about 100 fatalities in a simulation exercise.
The disaster that has affected infrastructure like electricity and water supply nationwide as well as making commuting impossible. In a situation like this, the protocols that will be established will facilitate the arrival on international humanitarian assistance. This among others were tested to find out if the country has such procedures in place. A disaster of such magnitude would not escape the radar of ECOWAS.
In view of this, Franklin Babila Doh, a Humanitarian Security Consultant with the Pan African Institute for West Africa welcomed the training , saying ECOWAS has protocols in place to assist member countries in such situation.
The Technical Director, Disaster Management Advise and Training in Austria, Prof. Dr. Alois Hirschmugl, expressed delight with the seriousness that participants attached to the exercise.
He noted that during such emergency situations, host country leadership is crucial for successful assistance.
Story filed by Joyce Gyekye.
