A day long meeting on Liberia’s preparedness and responsiveness to national and regional disaster ended Tuesday at the Royal Grand Hotel in Monrovia with
stakeholders calling for the establishment of a national disaster management agency. The meeting critiqued the current structure, functions and capacity of the Disaster Commission, which led to the formulation of a draft national policy on disaster management to be reviewed by a small think-tank (comprising Ministry of Justice, Law Reform Commission and the Governance Commission) and submitted to the Ministry of Internal Affairs for Cabinet Presentation.
Addressing the opening session of the meeting, Vice President Joseph N. Boakai said preparing for disaster is not an option but a “must” adding that a meeting to review the Government of Liberia’s capabilities to respond to a major national, regional and global disaster event couldn’t have come at a better time given the national and regional health threats associated with the outbreak of Ebola Disease. The Vice President reminded stakeholders at the meeting the proper planning and formulation of solid strategies are proven ways to deal with disasters.
Speaking for the Government of the United States of America, Ambassador Deborah Malac said her government, along with Liberia’s other international partners, is ready to help Liberia prepare for any disaster or pandemic. She disclosed that the US Government has spent over half a million dollars on disaster preparedness initiative in Liberia.
The meeting, organized by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the United States Africa Command and sponsored by the Center for Disaster and Humanitarian Assistance Medicine (CDHAM), was attended by several officials of the Liberian Government. At the end of the meeting, Min. Morris Dukuly thanked all participants for fruitful discussions and “excellent speeches” on how to face outbreaks like Ebola.