Govt to set up situation room

The government is in the process of setting up a national situation room for multi-hazard early warnings.

This was announced by deputy prime minister and minister of works and transport John Mutorwa at yesterday’s ‘Early Warning For All Multi-Stakeholder Forum’ (EW4All) in Windhoek.

The forum is a follow-up to an action plan calling for the establishment of continent-wide early warning systems coverage by 2027 to address weather, water and climate service-related challenges and opportunities.

The forum brings together diverse actors and stakeholders from government institutions, the United Nations (UN) and non-governmental organisations, the private sector, academia, civil society and organisations representing youth, women and persons with disabilities, with the aim of reviewing key accomplishments and sharing experience and good practice.

“The government is looking forward to working with the EW4All global partners, donors and all stakeholders to ensure that every Namibian is covered by a multi-hazard early warning system,” Mutorwa said.

The national situation room is being set up with the help of the African Union Commission, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the UN organisations for disaster risk reduction, food and agriculture and humanitarian affairs, as well as the World Food Programme, according to the minister.

It will be linked to the emergency coordination centre, the SADC Humanitarian and Emergency Operations Centre and the broader Africa Multi-Hazard Early Warning and Early Action System, said Mutorwa.

“We strongly believe that the process and the challenges in the establishment of this situation room are things we will be proud to share with other member states in the region and beyond,” he said.