Multi Hazard Contingency Plan MHCP
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
National Multi Hazard Contingency Plan 2012 to 2013 May 2012 KINDGOM OF SWAZILAND FOREWORD The impact of global climate change has not spared Swaziland. Climate and weather experts have predicted that this country, like other countries in the world, will experience climate change that will inhibit human development and food security in the short and longer terms. Swaziland has experienced an increase in hazardous events like flash floods, drought, storms, extreme temperatures, wildfire, disease outbreaks, significant damage to ecosystems, threats to agriculture production and food security. These hazards have become more frequent and intense. This year alone, the country experienced threats from cyclone Dando and Irina, respectively albeit without causing any significant adverse effects revealing Swaziland’s vulnerability to such climate and weather hazards. Natural hazards such as cyclones cannot be prevented from occurring, but their effects can be mitigated through early warning systems and effective emergency preparedness, mitigation, disaster response and early recovery systems. As a result of extreme climatic events, the country has experienced numerous droughts; effects of which reduced food production and threatening food security, human, financial and other losses. It is presented that many countries across the globe will see a fall in gross domestic product (GDP) with the dry spells cutting down agricultural production. The severe fiscal challenges in the country are occurring against the background of a fragile risk profile resulting from threats of natural hazards such as cyclones, storms, flash floods, drought/dry spells with possibility of triggering outbreak of epidemics such as cholera, waterborne diseases and malaria. The fiscal crisis, compounded by rising food prices, severely impacts poorer households and vulnerable groups such as households with members living with HIV. All these challenges have motivated the country to develop the Multi Hazard Contingency plans in order to better prepare and mitigate the adverse effects of potential weather and climate hazards. The National Multi Hazard Contingency Plan (MHCP) demonstrates Government’s commitment to preventing and mitigating the effects of natural disasters. Successful implementation of the plan requires concerted efforts and collaboration from all stakeholders. I am informed that the plan was developed through a participatory and inclusive multi-sectoral process involving stakeholders from Government, the United Nations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and the Private Sector. I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to all stakeholders for their inputs and collaboration in ensuring effective and successful prevention and mitigation of effects of natural disasters and protecting livelihoods of the Swazi Nation. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister would like to acknowledge the effort of all stakeholders whose inputs resulted to the production of the National Multi Hazard Contingency Plan covering the period from May 2012 to April 2013. The plan was developed through an inclusive and participatory process involving all sectors from Government, the UN, NGOs and Private Sector representatives. We are indebted to the United Nations Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Regional Office for Southern Africa for financial and technical support. We are so grateful to the United Nations Resident Coordinator’s Office, the United Nations Agencies, NGOs and Private Sector stakeholders who provided various technical inputs for the drafting of the contingency plan. Special thanks go to the United Nations World Food Programme for the provision of technical and financial assistance. Mr. Joseph Mutsigwa, Disaster Risk Reduction consultant who facilitated preparation of the National Multi Hazard Contingency Plan was provided through financial support from the United Nations World Food Programme in collaboration with the National Disaster Management Agency. ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS ART Anti Retroviral Therapy AWD Acute Watery Diarrhoea CTA Central Transport Authority DMF Disaster Management Fund DPMO Deputy Prime Minister’s Office EPR Emergency Preparedness and Response EWS Early Warning Systems GBV Gender Based Violence GoS Government of Swaziland HEA Household Economy Approach HH Household HV Highveld IDNS Immediate Disease Notification System JFM January February March LP Lubombo Plateau LV Lowveld MHCP Multi-hazard Contingency Plan MHUD Ministry of Housing and Urban Development MICT Ministry of Information Communication and Technology MoA Ministry of Agriculture MoET Ministry of Education and Training MoH Ministry of Health MoHA Ministry of Home Affairs MoHUD Ministry of Housing and Urban Development MoPWT Ministry of Public Works and Transport MTAD Ministry of Tinkhundla Administration and Development MTEA Ministry of Tourism and Environmental Affairs MV Middleveld NCP Neighbourhood Care Point NDMA National Disaster Management Agency NFI Non Food Item NGO Non Governmental Organisation OCHA-ROSA Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs-Regional Office for Southern Africa OND October November December OVC Orphans and Vulnerable Children PLHIVA People Living with HIV and Aids PLWD People Living with Disability RSP Royal Swaziland Police RWSB Rural Water Supply Branch SADC RVAA Southern Africa Development Community Regional Vulnerability Assessment and Analysis SOPs Standard Operating Procedures SRH Sexual and Reproductive Health STI Sexual Transmitted Infection SVAC Swaziland Vulnerability Assessment Committee SWSC Swaziland Water Services Corporation UNCT United Nations Country Team UNDP United Nations Development Programme UNFPA United Nations Population Fund UNICEF United Nations Children Emergency Fund UNRC United Nations Resident Coordinator UNRCO United Nations Resident Coordinator’s Office USDF Umbutfo Swaziland Defence Forces WASH Water Sanitation and Hygiene WFP World Food Programme WHO World Health Organisation TABLE OF CONTENTS FOREWORD ............................................................................................................................................... 2 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ......................................................................................................................... 3 1.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .................................................................................................................... 8 2.0 INTRODUCTION AND CONTEXT.................................................................................................. 10 2.1 Overall Objective ........................................................................................................................... 12 2.1.1 Specific objectives .................................................................................................................. 12 2.2 Contingency Plan Layout ............................................................................................................. 12 2.3 Activation of the MHCP ................................................................................................................. 13 3.0 VULNERABILITY ANALYSIS .......................................................................................................... 13 3.1 Drought/Dry Spells ........................................................................................................................ 13 3.2 Floods and Storms/ Cyclones ...................................................................................................... 13 3.3 Epidemic Outbreaks ...................................................................................................................... 13 4.0 CAPACITY ANALYSIS ..................................................................................................................... 17 DROUGHT AND DRY SPELLS ............................................................................................................. 19 5.0 HAZARD AND RISK ANALYSIS ..................................................................................................... 19 5.1 Drought and dry spells .................................................................................................................. 19 5.2 SCENARIO AND PLANNING ASSUMPTIONS ........................................................................ 22 5.2.1 Drought/dry spells ...................................................................................................................... 22 5.3 EARLY WARNING AND MONITORING .................................................................................... 24 5.3.1 Early Warning Indicators for Drought .................................................................................. 24 6.0 HAZARD AND RISK ANALYSIS ..................................................................................................... 25 6.1 Floods and Storms (windstorms/rainstorms/cyclones) ............................................................ 25 6.2 SCENARIO AND PLANNING ASSUMPTIONS ........................................................................ 29 6.2.1 Floods, Storms and Cyclones .............................................................................................. 29 6.3 EARLY WARNING AND MONITORING .................................................................................... 31 6.3.1 Early Warning Indicators for Floods and Storms ............................................................... 31 6.3.2 Primary Sources of