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Southern Africa ill-prepared for natural disasters

    JOHANNESBURG

    Southern Africa needs a regional response to crises such as the recent floods which devastated Mozambique and parts of Zimbabwe and South Africa this year, South Africa’s environment minister said on Thursday.

    “I don’t think we are anywhere near fulfilling the responsibility for adequate preparedness,” Mohammed Valli Moosa told a conference on disaster management hosted by the country’s second house of parliament, the National Council of the Provinces.

    “It should and must be possible to limit the damage that is caused, particularly to human life,” he added.

    The minister said that disaster preparedness and management should not only focus on the “headline-grabbing” spectacular events, but should also deal with daily occurrences such as disease epidemics or township fires.

    “Localised disasters must also receive our attention,” he said.

    This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions

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