ECOWAS Urges West African Governments To Carefully Budget For Disasters.

Every level of government has been asked to budget for disaster to prevent its recurrence, which, according to recent research, has exposed and negatively impacted approximately 75 per cent of West Africa’s population.
Speaking at the mid-term consultative meeting of the Regional Committee for Disaster Management in West Africa, organised by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission in Abuja on Tuesday, Frank Nansam-Aggrey, Deputy Director Climate Change Department, National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), Ghana, stated that coordinated efforts are required to combat disasters in West Africa.
He stated, “Disaster issues have become extremely complex.” Now and then, we hear stories in West Africa about disasters that affect our people. Disasters have left many people in the subregion vulnerable, with research indicating that approximately 75% of our population has been affected by one type of disaster or another. It is flooding, if it is not flooding, it is drought, and if it is not drought, it is conflict, so the subcommittee must examine disaster issues very carefully because our population is affected regularly.”
Nansam-Aggrey acknowledged that ECOWAS is doing its best with its resources, but added that “financial constraints sometimes prevent the bloc from meeting the needs of its member countries.”
He did, however, say: “Countries need to do more; disaster management is viewed as an abstract issue, making budgeting somewhat abstract. We must go above and beyond to clearly and decisively budget for disaster issues so that they are not left to chance and appear futuristic.
“It is actually with us. We need to make more efforts at the community, district, and national levels, and all actors must work together to channel all of the resources we can gather to ensure everyone’s safety in the subregion.
He stated, “The time has come for us to begin to look at West Africa’s regional preparedness against extreme disaster occurrences such as floods, fires, and other disasters that cause total havoc on human existence. In general, disasters caused by natural and man-made hazards have increased over the last three decades, causing distress for more than 75% of West Africa’s population.”
He lamented that: “According to the ECOWAS Policy for Disaster Risk Reduction document, a large number of people and their livelihoods in West African countries are exposed and vulnerable to at least one hazard event, which is exacerbated by conflicts and diseases.” Furthermore, in some cases, disasters have jeopardised development, while development decisions have increased disaster risks.
He did, however, say: “In response to these scenarios, and with the help of national governments and, to some extent, the ECOWAS Commission, member states are increasing their interest and efforts in disaster risk reduction. Despite these efforts, major disasters such as flooding, sea erosion, and drought continue to worsen in the sub-region, resulting in budget overruns for member states. As climate change factors exacerbate extreme weather events, the vulnerabilities of our people will grow, resulting in negative financial consequences for member countries. This confirms the conclusion that the sub-regions vulnerability to hazards accounts for the level of disaster devastation experienced by countries in the region each year, despite insufficient public funding to maintain and improve resilience or provide relief assistance to disaster victims.”
Mrs. Zubaida Umar, Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency, who was represented by the agency’s Director of Disaster Risk Reduction, Dr Daniel Obot, lamented that “the West African sub-region, which is characterised by its diverse geography, population, and cultures, has a complex relationship with nature and human-caused disasters.
“Over the years, the subregion has experienced a series of disasters, crises, and conflicts, posing serious threats to the human population, the environment, infrastructure, and means of livelihood.”
He went on to say, “With this disaster scenario, the regional recovery roadmap, the regional resilience strategy, and the roster of experts, among others, will have to be deployed for significant progress to be recorded in the management of disaster risk in West Africa in line with the ECOWAS goal of inclusive coordination and harmonisation of disaster risk management efforts.”
Mohammed Ibrahim, Head of ECOWAS Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management Division, stated: “In West Africa and the Sahel region, the magnitude of vulnerability and exposure to hazards and disaster losses is expected to increase over the next decade. Countries are especially vulnerable to sudden onset events like floods, as well as ongoing issues like land degradation, water scarcity, and coastal erosion, all of which have become more common and severe as a result of climate change’s negative effects.”
He stated that while conflict remains the primary driver of displacement, climate change has had a significant impact on migration decisions throughout West Africa in recent decades. The overlap between conflict and climate disasters highlights the critical need for comprehensive and coordinated responses to break the cycle of climate change and armed conflict, as well as increased humanitarian access and funding to support resilience and adaptation to climate change.”