Italy has invested more than $14 million in ECOWAS to help support the regional power to better understand risk disaster.

The Ambassador of Italy to Nigeria, Stefano De Leo, said this at the inauguration of the ECOWAS Disaster Operation Centre in Abuja on Thursday.

De Leo said the investment was through the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR).

“The Government of Italy is particularly proud of the cooperation in this sector with ECOWAS, United Nations Office for Disaster and Risk Reduction, International Center for Environmental Monitoring, and the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“Over the last year Italy has invested, through UNDRR, more than 14 million dollars to support a better understanding of risk, the real impact of disaster, how these disrupt the socio-economic system and the possibility for a sustainable development,” he said.

The ambassador said the Italian government looked to increasing the strategic role of Africa in tackling global challenges, with great attention to the growing leadership of the African Union and its regional organisations.

He said the event was dedicated to the Disaster Operation Centre of ECOWAS, the fourth centre of the African Multi-Hazard Early Warning and Action System (AMHEWAS) for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR).

He also said the centre in ECOWAS would play a key role in multi-hazard monitoring and early warnings for floods, extreme weather, droughts, and food insecurity in the region.

“The roadmap to establish a continental mechanism is still long, but the network of cooperation is widening.

“It is crucial to step up and to deepen relationships also in facing together the challenges of sustainable economic development, protection of climate change and policies for disaster reduction.

“The close interconnection of all these challenges is evident to all of us,” he said.

Moreso, the ambassador said the event provided an important moment to reflect on specific commitments to promote safer and resilient communities.

He said it also provided commitments to put in place an effective continental mechanism to enhance data access and exchange across the region and the continent.

In her remarks, Fatou Sow Sarr, ECOWAS Commissioner for Human Development and Social Affairs, expressed the gratitude of ECOWAS to the Italian government for the significant contribution and steadfast commitment to the project.

Mrs Sarr said the centre would be linked to established centres in the African Union Commission in Addis Ababa, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development – Climate Prediction and Applications Centre (IGAD- ICPAC) in Nairobi, and the African Centre of Meteorological Applications for Development (ACMAD) in Niamey.

“We gather to mark a significant milestone – the inauguration of the Regional Disaster Operations Centre within our Department of Human Development and Social Affairs.

“This centre, a testament to the generous contributions of the Government of Italy, the CIMA Foundation, and the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, is outfitted with the free, open-source platform, myDEWETRA, which will significantly enhance our capacity to monitor, analyse, and exchange disaster risk data,” she said.

myDEWETRA is a real-time system for hydro-meteorological forecasting and monitoring.

Furthermore, the commissioner said the commission had emerged as a vital aspect in driving Agenda 2030 and Agenda 2063, in strengthening the regional ability to tackle cross-border challenges.

“Through partnerships and collaborations, we have made considerable strides in supporting member states and fostering resilient communities.

“By 2030, we aspire to substantially augment the availability of and access to multi-hazard early warning systems and disaster risk information,” he said.

Also speaking, Mami Mizutori, Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction, UNDRR said DRR required the contribution of all partners.

Mrs Mizutori further said all ECOWAS member states would be able to contribute and receive fundamental support.

“And of course, this effort would not have been possible without the generous support of the Government of Italy, to whom we are grateful.

“The UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction is proud to have played a role in establishing this centre by providing both technical and staffing support and we will continue this support moving forward to help the centre reach its full potential,” she said.

The UN representative said the establishment of the ECOWAS Disaster Operations Centre, as a core element of the AMHEWAS, was an important milestone in achieving the Early Warnings for All initiative.

She said the UNDRR was committed to helping all countries achieve this level of resilience.

Also, Mustapha Ahmed, Director-General, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), said management of disaster risks could not be actualised without an efficient coordination mechanism.

Mr Ahmed also said that effective early warning systems for anticipatory early actions were needed.

(NAN)