Our concern at this National Conference
therefore is rapid deployment, of man as well as equipment and
facilities, in alleviating human suffering and further deterioration
of the land in the event of a disaster, whether natural
of man-induced.
What is important when such an event
occurs is the speed with which we respond, and how efficiently and
effectively we do this.
This Conference, we hope, will provide
us with some of the nagging problems that we are faced with, among
them the role of Non-Governmental Organisations in disaster relief
work.
Do NGOs have to wait to be called to
assist in the event of a disaster? Who decides that the situation is
a disaster and how soon will this be done? There is a role for
everyone to play and what we need is a clear direction.
This Conference also brings together a
coalition of NGOs that will coordinate and liaise with one another
on the relief work and humanitarian efforts NGOs can put in, should
a disaster occur in any part of the country.
We believe that this platform, this
Coalition of NGOs, will serve as a conduit with Government agencies
to enable concerned citizens of the country to play a more
meaningful role to alleviate human sufferings in a tragedy. This
Conference is the start of a better way of doing things.
I believe that all citizens should play
a greater role to help out in emergencies as they occur, and provide
humanitarian aid to the victims, instead of leaving this to the
Government and tits various agencies alone.
