The East African Community (EAC) Deputy Secretary General (Political Federation), Beatrice Kiraso, has urged the EAC to step up co-operation in disaster management efforts.

She said that no single state has the capacity to individually deal with all natural disasters as they arise.

Kiraso made the remarks, this week, during the first meeting that brought together heads of disaster risk reduction and management amongst EAC Partner States in Dar-es Salaam, Tanzania.

‘’Disasters are a security concern and have direct linkage with conflicts and can undermine social harmony while creating fertile ground for insecurity if not adequately responded to,’’ she said in a statement.

She added that disasters, both natural and man-made, have far reaching effects on lives and societies in general.
 
"Preparedness is very important, needing sufficient resources, both financial and human,” she said justifying the need for cooperation between the countries.

She pointed to recent incidents in south East Asia as a reminder of the need to ensure adequate preparation and development of internal capacity to address the immediate consequences, inculcate resilience and restore capacity for recovery.

‘’To achieve set goals requires unity of purpose and must be approached from a multi-sectoral perspective,’’ the EAC official added.

Kiraso asked the delegates to propose practical and affordable mechanisms for co-operation in disaster preparedness and response across the region.

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