Dakar, Oct 17 (APS) – The head of the West Africa Regional Office of the Pan-African Risk Management Mutual (ARC, in English), a specialized agency of the African Union (AU), expressed, Thursday , the compassion and solidarity of its structure to the Senegalese government and to the populations affected by the floods in the regions of Matam (north) and Kédougou (southeast), following the flooding of the Senegal River.
“We were very touched by what is happening in the northern and southeastern regions of Senegal (Matam and Kédougou) and we express all our compassion and solidarity to the government of the Republic of Senegal for the affected populations,” said notably indicated Linda Carole Tiémoko.
She was speaking on the sidelines of a regional technical workshop opening today, which continues until October 22. Several experts, Senegalese officials and various other actors are participating in the meeting.
“We are meeting in Dakar to see with experts how to deal with risks preventively,” explained the head of the ARC West Africa Regional Office.
Linda Carole Tiémoko recalled that the ARC has the mandate to warn member countries about disaster risks in West, Central and North Africa. It is also carrying out a capacity building and support program for local experts in the prevention and management of disaster risks.
According to a document released to the press, the Pan-African Risk Management Mutual Fund was established by the African Union to help African governments improve their capacity to plan, prepare and respond to extreme weather events and natural disasters.
”’Through collaboration and innovative financing, the ARC Group enables countries to strengthen their disaster risk management systems and access rapid and predictable disaster financing to protect food security and the livelihoods of their vulnerable populations,” adds the same source.
SG/ABB/OID
Senegal
