By Tenson Zobo
Ministry of Natural Resources Energy and Mining Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services alongside Department of Disaster Management Affairs have taken a new approach in Managing Climate change effects originating from El Nino (the warming of waters in the Pacific Ocean) through Disaster Insurance Plan amount to 30 Million dollars.
The revelations were made during a debate on El Nino and upcoming extreme weather events between government and Civil Society Organizations in a move to prepare for disasters yesterday in Lilongwe.
Director in the Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services Jolamu Nkhokwe, said they have now decided to partner with stakeholders and communities in the implementing several climate programs and activities to reduce the effects of climate change like National Resilience Plan and planting trees instead of worsening the situation by cutting down trees.
Said Nkhokwe: “We have discovered that people don’t know or have less knowledge what El Nino is and how it affects them in a general livelihood, northern part of the country particularly in Kalonga receive more rainfalls which resulted into floods due to El Nino hence a need for people to the impacts of it”,
He also state that promoting collaboration and coordination between Civil Society and Government in promoting community and ecosystem resilience to climate change is crucial factor to be considered.
Therefore, it is of critical significance to inform the public how Weather patterns are behaving. For instance, in the Southern part of Malawi El Nino has negatively affected the masses due to extremely dry spells hence if people know of Disaster Insurance Plan it will positively help them
Chief Relief and Rehabilitation Officer in Disaster Affairs Daisi Nkhoma highlight that government has Disaster Insurance Plan, National Resilience Plan, and National Contingence Plan put in place for disasters management.
He said the instruments aimed at increasing public understanding on Climate variability and weather events particularly the El Nino hence promote informed decision making among communities in Disaster Risk Reduction and Management and livelihood options in Malawi.
Christian Aid Programs Manager Chaka Kamanga, appealed to all stakeholder to join hand in reducing Climate change effects.
“Despite the evident changes in the country’s weather and climate patterns, there is limited understanding of the causes, anticipated impacts among the public and vulnerable communities. In an effort to promote preparedness and resilience among communities dependent on weather related occupations, there is need to scale up efforts to raise awareness and public understanding on climate and weather variability”, he said.
Civil Society Network on Climate Change (CISONECC) has been working closely with the government by proving inputs into Government of Malawi’s preferred positions to Conference of Parties (COP) 21 to (UNFCCC) in the same development. In doing so, CISONECC makes use of evidence from the interactions of the member organizations with the local communities to ensure that debate reflect local perspective.