By Lamin Kujabi
The Secretary General of the International Civil Defence Organisation (ICDO) Madam Mariatou Yap has led a delegation to Banjul and met with His Excellency President Adama Barrow at State House.
The visit, according to the officials, was meant to discuss the country’s recruitment as a member of the Organisation.
The International Civil Defence Organisation (ICDO) is an inter-governmental organisation whose objective is to contribute to the development of states by structuring and ensuring the protection of populations by safe-guarding property and environment from natural and man-made disasters. It is meant to provide technical and humanitarian support to members, mainly in Africa, through training and capacity building.
After her audience with the President on Wednesday January 25th Secretary General Yap told the press that the organisation is working to increase its membership especially from Africa to join the 28 countries so as to make tackling of disaster easier. She affirmed that they had discussed with the President to possibility of the country’s membership in the organisation and that the President has expressed readiness to make The Gambia a member.
“One of the main strategies of ICDO is to build international civil defence services to create a platform with three entities: a regional operational centre, and regional training centre, and a regional warehouse to create an African platform that requires the participation of many African countries”.
She revealed that the President is conscious of disasters and that he had briefed them about the recent disaster that occurred in The Gambia.
Madam Yap said that since she became Secretary General in 2020, she has been working hard to make sure African countries work together to prepare and pull out resources in anticipation of and recovery from disasters, as developing economies.
She used the occasion to extend her sincere condolences on the demise of the late Vice President.
Executive Director of the National Disaster Management Agency – NDMA - Mr Sanna Dahaba, led the delegation to the State House.
ICDO is said have been created in 1931, with the aim to protect civilians during world war 1 and later to protect civilians against disaster, both natural and man-made.
