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DISASTER RISK MANAGEMENT WORKSHOP INVITATION 17-18 November 2009
Disasters: true or false?
‘The correct response to disasters is to immediately send international relief materiel, such as tents,
blankets and drugs'; 'Foreign volunteers with any kind of medical background are needed'; 'Disasters
are random killers'; 'Unburied corpses of disaster victims cause the spread of contagious diseases'.
Background
Natural and human-induced disasters, including, but not limited to droughts, floods, epidemics,
extreme temperatures and fires commonly occur in South Africa and in South African cities. Such
events negatively impact communities and individuals, livelihoods and infrastructure and cause social
and economic losses at all scales. Disasters also compromise (sustainable) development and the
implementation of city strategies.
In order to mitigate the negative impacts of disasters, cities must be constantly prepare to deal with a
variety of disasters and must be able to ensure speedy and appropriate action, both before and after
disasters. Despite legislation designed to coordinate government bodies and minimize the impacts of
disasters in SA, officials have historically been unprepared to deal with disasters and their actions
have been uncoordinated, with government often having to rely on civil society to manage most of the
after-effects of disasters. South Africa has typically been overly focused on disaster response and
relief, instead of on reduction of risk and vulnerability. Effective management of disasters places a
heavy burden on many institutions, especially those at the local or metropolitan level, who need to
develop, coordinate and implement appropriate disaster risk management strategies.
Purpose
The purpose of this workshop is to:
- Consolidate disaster risk concepts and strategies amongst municipal officials, with an emphasis on
preparedness and mitigation strategies;
- Review the current legislative and regulatory framework in SA;
- Learn lessons in DRM from public and private experience (both local and international);
- Discuss the key challenges facing municipalities in anticipating and mitigating disasters and then
workshop strategies to improve South Africa’s disaster reduction.
For more information Download [In pdf format]:
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Other news
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Calendar
SACN calendar of events
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Mid-Term Review
Strategic Plan of the SACN
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Workshop
Review of Quality of Life Survey
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India’s Urban Transformation from Challenge to Opportunity
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Infrastructure dialogues
* SACN studies finance
* Infrastructure sector procurement
* Fifa 2010 Football World Cup: Infrastructure legacy
* Climate change and the effect on Municipal Infrastructure
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Invitation
South Africa’s Green Economy Summit 2010: Towards a Resource Efficient, Low Carbon and Pro-Employment Growth Path
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Programme
SACN Inclusive Cities Reference Group Meeting "Expanded Public Works Programme"
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Programme
Reference Group Climate Change, Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency, Local
Government Leads the Way, Nelson Mandela Bay
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Featured SACN Reports
Well-Governed Cities Report
2009 [pdf]
Sustainable Cities Report
2009 [pdf]
2008 [pdf]
Municipal property rates and the urban poor Report
State of the Cities Report
Annual report
2009 [pdf]
2008 [pdf]
2007 [pdf]
2006 [pdf]
2005 [pdf]
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