The Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA) and the UNDP Malawi on Friday (7th June, 2024) launched K500 million worth prefabricated emergency operation centres (EOCs) assembled in Zomba, Karonga, Salima, Dedza and Phalombe District Councils to improve disaster risk management coordination.

Speaking during the launch in Zomba District, Commissioner for Disaster Management Affairs Rev. Charles Kalemba called upon the councils to make full use of the centres in building resilience of communities.

“We are committed to improving disaster management coordination and building resilience of the nation. We need to go beyond congregating at the EOC during emergencies and use the facilities in developing and coordinating the implementation of disaster risk management [DRM] programmes at all stages of the DRM cycle to build resilience to climate shocks,” said Kalemba.

In her remarks, UNDP Resident Representative Fenella Frost reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to strengthening disaster management systems in the country and commended the councils for playing a pivotal role in establishing the EOCs, which have been installed under the Scaling Up the Use of Modernized Climate Information and Early Warning Systems (M-CLIMES) Project.

District Commissioner for Zomba Reinghard Chavula said she is grateful for the EOC as it will ease coordination in disaster management.

The M-CLIMES is a Green Climate Fund, UNDP and Malawi Government-funded Project aimed at supporting Malawi in taking steps to save lives and enhance livelihoods at risk of climate-related disasters. Among other notable interventions, the project supported the installation of community-based flood early warning systems (CB-FEWS) in eight districts of the country.