Last week, the UN-backed climate forecasting forum warned that the next rainy season between March and May could be erratic in the Greater Horn of Africa countries, including Rwanda.The Greater Horn of Africa comprises Burundi, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda.The UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR) said that disaster managers and sector specialists are in agreement that disaster risk reduction must be embedded in long-term development plans for the region.This calls for disaster risk reduction to be embedded in long-term development plans. Preparing the populace for disasters even when we don’t forecast it is something we must strive for.A situation of working in panic after disaster has struck is undesirable. There is a need to sensitise the masses about disaster preparedness and disaster management. The forum further warns that, there will be long dry spells which will impact crop production and food security.The population should therefore be prepared to harvest and store rain to help them during the dry spell. The 30th Greater Horn of Africa Climate Outlook Forum (GHACOF30) also found that there will be near normal to above normal rainfall in some areas.The government departments involved in disaster preparedness should not treat the warning lightly. Previously there have been tragedies including landslides which destroyed property and claimed lives.People living in disaster prone areas should be relocated from the danger zones before it’s too late.
