VEEP calls for global collaboration in disaster battle

Vice President Mutale Nalumango has informed the United Nations for Disaster Risk Reduction(UNDRR) that Africa and Zambia in particular is not immune to disasters, hence the need for all nations to collaborate in fighting world tragedies.

Ms Nalumango said Zambia experiences natural disasters such as floods and human to human conflicts, but that the country tries hard to reduce the effects of such occurrences.

Ms Nalumango was speaking during a bilateral meeting with UN Special Representative for Disaster Risk Reduction Mami Mizotori on the sidelines of the GP2022 global forum in Bali, Indonesia today.

Ms Nalumango further lamented that the country is also facing the threat of food insecurity due to high prices of fertilizer on the market, another battle the government of Zambia she said is trying to normalize.

She lauded the United Nations (UN) for the support it has continued to render towards the fight against the COVID-19-pandemic not only in Zambia but the world at large.

“As Zambia we get involved where any particular disaster occurs whether at home or abroad,” she stated.

And Ms Mizotori assured the Vice President that UNDRR will work and support UN member states including Zambia in issues of disasters

The UNDRR is the focal point for disaster risk reduction within the UN system.

It oversees the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 and convenes and organises the Global Platforms for Disaster Risk Reduction.

During the opening of the forum yesterday, UN Deputy Secretary General, Amina Mohammed, said UN member states have a unique opportunity to consider the best policy options to move from risk to resilience, and to take important steps to ensure the recovery from Covid-19.