The world has been subjected to different disasters ranging from low to high. Different countries have been striving to create different preventive and securing mechanism to offset the adverse impacts.
The ability to handle the impact caused by the disaster depends on various factors such as level of economic development, presence of emergency support functions, degree of coordination, technological development and other administrative issues.
Generally, Disaster refers to the disruption of the functioning of the society causing widespread human, infrastructure or environmental loss, which exceeds ability of the affected society to cope with its resources and hence may require the need of external assistance. It also refers to any occurrence that causes damage, ecological disruption, loss of human life, deterioration of health and health services, on a scale sufficient to warrant an extraordinary response from outside the affected community or area.
Disaster can be categorized in different ways such as natural and manmade disasters or rapid and slow onset disasters.
Like other areas in the world, Zanzibar is not free from disasters both natural and manmade. It is exposed to many hazards including floods, drought, tropical cyclones, tsunami, marine accidents, fire, strong winds and epidemics, all of which have the potential of disrupting the community in terms of social and economic services, ecological, environmental and health.
Occurrence of the hazard/ disaster events cannot be avoided, but the magnitude of the impacts in terms of loss of life and destruction of property can be minimized through effective and timely preparedness and response measures including regular inspections aimed to spot out the possible disaster risks.
Most of the primary stake holders which are technical are: Zanzibar Fire and Rescue Force, Zanzibar Utilities Regulatory Authority, Zanzibar Electricity Corporation, Tanzania Peoples Defense Force, Zanzibar Food And Drugs Agency, Zanzibar Revenue Authority, Zanzibar Building Contractors, Zanzibar Airport Authority, Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority, KMKM, KVZ,JKU, Tanzania Red Cross Society, Tanzania Metrological Authority, Zanzibar Water Authority, Zanzibar Bureau Standards, Chief Government Chemistry Laboratory Agency Zanzibar, Tanzania Maritime Authority, Occupation Safety and Health, Zanzibar Investment Program Authority, Tanzania Police Force, Immigration Tanzania, Zanzibar Environment Management Authority, Local Government Administrations.
the leading facilitator, Dr. Ally Kibona from Mwalimu Nyerere Memorial Academy – Dar es Salaam said during session of drafting the standard operating procedure for disaster risk reduction inspections, one of the core functions of Zanzibar Disaster Management Commission is to coordinate regular inspection and monitoring of buildings, equipment and facilities to spot out possible disaster risks as indicated in Section 10(k) of the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act No. 1/2015.
Furthermore, the guidelines intend to meet requirement of the policy statement No. 9 on its implementation strategy of Zanzibar Disaster Management policy of 2011. Moreover, various sectors conduct inspections that are not multi sectoral and they do not directly link with general disaster risk reduction aspects of which some of the risks may be remained unmet.
Therefore, this guideline harmonizes Disaster Risk Reduction inspections by incorporating all key stakeholders on spotting out all potential disaster risks.
Mr Makame Khatib Makame Executive Director, Zanzibar Disaster Management Commission said during closing remarks, important of simulation exercise to Zanzibar sub national platform for disaster risk reduction align to the implementation of the National operational guidelines for disaster management policy and monitoring and evaluation framework for disaster management policy in Zanzibar.
Good
Excellent