By Chisomo Phiri
The Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA) has reiterated the government’s commitment to institutionalising anticipatory action as a means of reducing the impact of disasters in Malawi.
Addressing participants at the 3rd National Dialogue Platform in Lilongwe on Thursday, DoDMA Commissioner Wilson Moleni stressed the importance of shifting from reactive disaster responses to more proactive and preventive approaches.
“We learnt very painful lessons from Tropical Cyclone Freddy. The loss of lives and damage could have been significantly reduced had anticipatory actions been in place,” he said.
On his part,Joon Lim, representing the World Food Programme (WFP), said taking action before disasters strike not only helps families avoid hardship but also creates opportunities for them to build resilience.
The Malawi Red Cross Society (MRCS) underscored that anticipatory action can only be effective when supported by coordinated and collaborative efforts among all stakeholders.
The two-day platform brought together government ministries, United Nations (UN) agencies, Non-Government Organizations (NGOs), and local councils to strengthen systems that support early action and improve disaster preparedness nationwide.