Online Reporter
Bongani Ndlovu, [email protected]
GOVERNMENT has adopted immediate measures to assist communities affected by the Lake Kariba ferry disaster with focus on humanitarian relief, recovery, infrastructure development and disaster preparedness.
The measures were presented to Cabinet on Tuesday by Local Government and Public Works Minister Daniel Garwe on behalf of Vice-President Kembo Mohadi, who chairs the Cabinet Committee on Social Development.
Briefing journalists after Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Dr Zhemu Soda said the Government response would cover four key areas, namely humanitarian relief and psychosocial support, recovery and resilience building, transport and infrastructure development, and community training in disaster risk reduction.
Under humanitarian relief and psychosocial support, Government will deploy skilled mental health personnel to assist affected communities, provide emergency supplies, protect children and support education.
The recovery programme will focus on helping communities rebuild their livelihoods by expanding economic opportunities, providing vocational training and rebuilding community assets.
The transport and infrastructure component will include repairing roads, replacing vessels and establishing affordable ferry services.
Government will also strengthen early warning systems through the installation of weather stations and the use of drones and improved communication tools.
A comprehensive emergency response plan has been prioritised to ensure communities and authorities are better prepared to respond to future disasters.
The measures will also include improving community amenities and access to water and sanitation.
Cabinet has further prioritised training programmes covering water safety, first aid and disaster preparedness to equip communities with skills to respond to emergencies.
The timely disbursement of funds from the National Civil Protection Fund has also been emphasised, while Government will work with educational institutions to strengthen capacity for disaster risk reduction and emergency response.
The measures are part of Government’s efforts to support communities affected by the Lake Kariba ferry disaster while strengthening their ability to recover and withstand future emergencies.
