Disaster Management : Legislative Support Under Scrutiny

Since the Lake Nyos disaster in August 1986, not a year goes by in Cameroon without the occurrence of some kind of hazard (earthquake, volcanism, rising water levels, erosion, locust and flooding). The situation has been worsened by the effects of climate change causing more and more damage over the last twenty years. According to the Cameroon Red Cross (CRC), almost every year, floods affect most regions in the country, particularly in the Far North. The results of an assessment carried out by the CRC, the French Red Cross (FRC), with the support of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) shows that 22,976 households had been affected by floods. The impact of such calamities, especially during the rainy season is more severe especially as prevention mechanisms are not in place and response capacity remains weak. It is in this context that experts from different domains and ministries, yesterday August 7, 2024 in Yaounde began discussions in a meeting aimed at providing government with a study on the legal framework for civil protection (goods, the environment and people) in all communities involved in disaster.
Opening the workshop on behalf of the President of Cameroon Red Cross, the Secretary General of CRC, Zoa Jean Urbain said the gathering which ends today, August 8, 2024 is all about the restitution of the results of a study on the legislative support of the Cameroonian initiative in disaster risk management. He noted that it is within the project to accelerate local action in humanitarian and health funding of humanitarian aid and civil protect...