Mandera County has stepped up disaster preparedness measures ahead of anticipated El Niño rains, with stakeholders assessing risks and vulnerable areas.
The county is strengthening early action, resource mobilisation and coordination to protect lives, property and critical infrastructure from potential impacts of heavy rains.
Mandera plans to activate its Emergency Operations Centre and County Disaster Risk Management Committees to enhance local preparedness, information sharing and response.
The County Government of Mandera has stepped up preparedness measures ahead of anticipated El Niño rains, bringing together county departments and key stakeholders to strengthen coordination, early action and response planning.
A preparedness meeting chaired by the County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Social Development, Mohamed Ali Omar, focused on assessing potential risks, identifying vulnerable areas and strengthening measures to protect lives, property and critical infrastructure across the county.
The meeting provided a platform for relevant county departments and partners to review the potential impacts of heavy rainfall and assess the areas and communities that may face heightened risks.
The county is seeking to strengthen preparedness before the rains intensify, with stakeholders encouraged to remain proactive and ensure that planned response measures are put in place in advance.
The approach is intended to support timely interventions in areas vulnerable to flooding and other climate-related hazards.
Omar outlined the county's response plans and called on stakeholders and partners to strengthen early action as part of efforts to minimise the potential effects of the anticipated rains.
He also urged partners to mobilise resources and enhance collaboration to support preparedness, response and recovery interventions, particularly in vulnerable communities and high-risk areas.
Early action can help county authorities and humanitarian partners identify priority needs and deploy resources before a disaster occurs.
A key focus of the preparedness efforts is the activation of the County Emergency Operations Centre (EOC).
The centre is expected to facilitate coordination among relevant actors, improve information sharing and support timely decision-making during emergencies.
The county also plans to activate County Disaster Risk Management Committees to strengthen preparedness and response at the local level.
The committees are expected to enhance coordination within communities and support the implementation of disaster risk management measures closer to areas that may be affected.
The county government emphasised the importance of collaboration among departments, partners and other stakeholders in preparing for the anticipated rains.
Resource mobilisation will be particularly important in supporting timely preparedness and response interventions, especially in communities facing higher levels of vulnerability.
The meeting therefore sought to strengthen a coordinated approach that brings together government structures, partners and local stakeholders in addressing potential climate-related risks.
The Department of Social Development appreciated NAPAD for facilitating the preparedness meeting and acknowledged other partners supporting the county's efforts to strengthen disaster preparedness and resilience.
The engagement reflects ongoing efforts to improve the county's capacity to anticipate and respond to climate-related hazards.
As the anticipated El Niño rains approach, Mandera County is prioritising early action, coordination and local preparedness to reduce potential impacts on communities, infrastructure and livelihoods.
The county's emphasis on activating emergency coordination structures and strengthening collaboration is expected to support faster information sharing and decision-making should heavy rains and associated hazards occur.