Arusha and Moshi (Tanzania), Kisumu (Kenya), Bujumbura (Burundi) have joined the UN disaster reduction campaign “Making Cities Resilient: My City Is Getting Ready!" which aims to enlist over 1,000 local government leaders to increase investment in disaster risk reduction (DRR).
14 July 2011: The UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UN/ISDR) has announced that four East African cities, Arusha and Moshi (Tanzania), Kisumu (Kenya), Bujumbura (Burundi), have joined the UN disaster reduction campaign “Making Cities Resilient: My City Is Getting Ready!”
The cities joined the Campaign during a meeting of experts and policy makers aiming to identify a common strategy to tackle disaster prevention through the strengthening of national and regional risk reduction platforms in the East African region. Convening from 13-15 July 2011, in Arusha, Tanzania, the meeting included participants from the African Union Commission (AUC) and the mayors of Arusha, Moshi, Kisumu and Bujumbura. The forum emphasized the need for an integrated approach to policy and programming for disaster risk reduction (DRR) and climate change adaptation.
The aim of the Campaign is to enlist over 1,000 local government leaders to increase investment in DRR, including: improving urban planning, infrastructure and building safety; reinforcing drainage systems to reduce flood, storm and health threats; installing early warning systems; conducting public preparedness drills; and taking measures to adapt to the increasing impacts of climate change. [UN/ISDR Press Release] [East African Community Press Release]