Follow Us on Google
From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi
A Non Governmental Organization (NGO), Elim Christian Vocational Training Center, (Elim CVTC), in collaboration with the Benue state Emergency Management Agency(BSEMA), have hosted state community actors to a 2-day disaster preparedness workshop, in Makurdi, the Benue state capital.
Elim CVTC is a Christian NGO dedicated to disaster risk reduction and preparedness response, imp improving the lives of vulnerable population especially persons with disabilities and building community resilience to disaster.
Currently, Elim CVTC is implementing the Enabling Resilience to Climate Change (ER2CC) Related Risks project which is funded by the European Union, (EU), and Christian Blind Mission (CBM), aimed at building the resilience of communities to climate related risks and hazards.
The project is being implemented in eight communities spread across two local government areas of the state including Achoho, Korinya, Gungul and Amua Communities in Konshisha LGA and Atukpu, Naka, Gbabi and Aondona communities in Gwer West LGA, faced with over population, environmental and climate change issues.
Speaking at the workshop, the Executive Director Elim CVTC, Mr Emmanuel Egbodo, explained that the workshop is aimed at developing a disaster response plan for the communities where the project is being implemented.
He explained that “These communities are faced with population problem (over population), environmental and climate change issues which border on human livelihood, vulnerability and adaptability. These communities have a population directly dependent on climate sensitive economic activities such as farming and fishing that utilize natural resources such as water, biodiversity, and grassland.
“They live in remote areas and are ignorant to the changes in climate conditions which affect them and their economic activities. Also, the changes in climate conditions which brings about the related disasters such as flooding, drought, deforestation, pollution, bush burning, herders – farmers clashes, which affect the livelihood of the community members and make them more vulnerable to poverty, diseases, disability.
“This project will help build Resilience on the part of the selected communities by preparing them towards appropriate adaptations to climate change issues,” he added.
He further explained that the workshop was also to bring together a diverse group of stakeholders including representatives from relevant government Ministries departments and agencies as well as Civil Society Organisations, (CSOs) organization of persons with disabilities, (OPWD), Community Disaster Risk Committees, (CDRCs) traditional rulers, women and youth-led organisations among others, to collaboratively design a disaster preparedness and response plan that takes into consideration gender considerations and includes persons with disabilities living in Konshisha and where West LGAs of the state.
One of the facilitators, Mr James Iorhuna, appreciated Elim foundation for the training saying capacity building, relevant trainings, equipment and sensitization of local communities were critical steps to implementing disaster risk reduction.
Iorhuna who works with the SEMA Benue state said preparing for disaster helps to reduce risks, save lives and reduce economic loses.
He said local leaders must accept and be proactive with their primary responsibility of protecting their communities from disaster. He urged the participants to get involved by, among others, being law abiding and report suspicious activities that might lead to disaster to relevant authorities near their domain.
During the workshop,one of the facilitators, Mr Zegeh Orseer, took participants through the key concepts and principles of disaster risk reduction.
Participants were drawn from Benue SEMA, Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD) Living in the Environment, Advocates for Women and Girls Initiatives, Gender Environmental Risk Reduction Initiative, Ayatutu Unity and Ecological Forum, Benue State Ministry of Water Resources, Environment and Climate Change and the media among others
