In its quest to ensure effective disaster response during this rainy season, the National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) has recently concluded the annual boat operators’ refresher training in Shakawe.
The National Disaster Management Office was established to monitor, coordinate and respond to any rapid onset disasters in the country. It is responsible for proactively formulating national disaster management systems and coordination across the disaster spectrum through holding a series of preparedness for specific hazards such as floods, wild land fires and also providing early warning of an approaching disaster.
A team of around 15 boat owners was taken for training, which is done annually between the month of October and November in preparations of common disasters that happen in the country. The team was trained by the NDMO boat unit. In order to understand concepts and apply skills, theoretical knowledge was conducted and aspects such as boat maintenance and how to handle customers were directed.
When speaking at the training, the North West District Commissioner Thabang Waloka gave some of the objectives of the 5-day refresher training, indicating that it is expected to enhance safety, knowledge and skills in order to move swiftly during the disaster.
“In 2010 Okavango District experienced flooding during the rainy season leading to the evacuation of some villages and the displacement of some families,” he said.
According to Waloka, the disaster management committees were found unprepared at the time, adding that this led to a lot of damage experienced. However, he said the training aims to develop regional preparedness and enhance the ability to prepare for and respond to disaster promptly.
For his part the National Disaster Management Office Instructor Sereta Diwambara said apart from heavy rainfalls experienced in the Okavango district, cross border floods too cause significant damages and can have long term impacts on people.
He said it is well known that the Okavango region is one of the most disaster prone areas experiencing cross border flooding especially when the rains are heavy enough to cause flooding.
“We have noticed that such a disaster ends up affecting people and their lives. children end up not going to school and this calls for our service to train the community on how to fend for themselves during those difficult times while also training the boat operators how to assist the public using these boats.
