Republic of Mauritius- Stakeholders participate in a Whole of Island Disaster Impact National Emergency Operations Command exercise

The exercise lies in the context of the development of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Policies, Strategic Framework and Action Plan which is being devised with the assistance of the Agence Française de Développement.

The simulation exercise aims to test and examine Disaster Risk Reduction arrangements from mitigation to recovery, including roles and responsibilities, communication, agency activation and coordination, relief and recovery, rehabilitation and Build Back Better, financial support to agencies and disaster affected people, and to test international humanitarian assistance and relations.

As part of this project, the NDRRMC together with the Consultant, Mr P. Buckle held consultative meetings in November 2018 with all relevant stakeholders. During the meetings, several topics were discussed namely the elements of a Disaster Risk Reduction System, the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, hazard mitigation, disaster preparedness and response, land drainage policy and actions, disaster relief network, enhancement of early warning systems, public awareness and sensitisation programmes, policy and governance, school emergency plans, simulation exercises and disaster communication and information flows, amongst others.

Those working session helped to identify several gaps such as hot zone management, risk mapping, finance arrangements, public communication and interagency communication. Group discussions were also held whereby participants were asked to discuss about the risks that exist in Mauritius, the gaps in the Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) System, and a DRR system for Mauritius.

Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030

The development of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Policies, Strategic Framework and Action Plan is aligned on the principles of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030. The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030 was adopted at the Third United Nations World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction, held from 14 to 18 March 2015 in Sendai, Miyagi, Japan.

It represented a unique opportunity for countries to adopt a concise, focused, forward-looking and action-oriented post 2015 framework for disaster risk reduction; to complete the assessment and review of the implementation of the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005–2015: Building the Resilience of Nations and Communities to Disasters; and to consider the experience gained through the regional and national strategies/institutions and plans for disaster risk reduction and their recommendations, as well as relevant regional agreements for the implementation of the Hyogo Framework for Action.