Representatives from South African countries and regional and international disaster management organizations gathered in Johannesburg on Tuesday to strengthen their preparedness for the anticipated impacts of El Niño in the summer season of 2026/27. This four-day meeting is held under the title of the SADC Preparedness and Response Planning Workshop.
Workshop Objectives and Challenges Ahead
The main objective of this workshop is to enhance regional preparedness for natural disasters, increase proactive measures, and improve coordination in response to emerging human hazards across the region. Recent climate forecasts from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) indicate that rainfall in most central and southern areas of the region during the 2026/27 rainy season will be below normal, and temperatures in many places will also be above average. This situation identifies El Niño as a key climatic factor.
Read more: Preliminary DNA Identification in Syria, Hope for Missing Families
Predicted Hazards and Consequences
Forecasts also indicate an increased risk of drought in large areas of the region, while wetter conditions are expected in some northern and northeastern areas. Pumza Tiyali, the Director of Disaster Risk Assessment and Early Warnings at the South African National Disaster Management Centre, stated that the goal of this meeting is to strengthen disaster risk reduction mechanisms in the region and ensure a quicker response from member countries to emerging disasters.
Tiyali emphasized, "We want to build a safe and resilient SADC. Our aim is to review emergency planning arrangements and assess our preparedness measures to ensure timely and effective responses to disasters." She also added that special attention should be given to vulnerable groups, including women, children, and people with disabilities.
Manuel Lutango, the Head of Disaster Risk Reduction at SADC, also noted that the region must prepare before disasters occur and focus on proactive measures rather than relying on emergency responses after the fact. He referenced a World Bank assessment that investing in preparedness costs less than responding to disasters and emphasized the need to mobilize resources before disasters strike.
This workshop is set to conclude on Friday with recommendations on regional preparedness and response measures, financial needs, and resource mobilization mechanisms. This meeting is part of broader SADC efforts to translate seasonal climate forecasts into proactive actions. At the 46th SADC Ordinary Summit held in August, leaders of the organization urged member countries to strengthen early warning systems, drought preparedness, and climate-smart agriculture.
Read more: Houthis in Yemen Deny Claim of Attack on Medina · Human Casualties in Nepal Reach 14
