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Harare, Zimbabwe. (News of The South) – The African Risk Capacity (ARC) has said there is an urgent need to coordinate different actions better and enhance sharing of information in the light of increasing incidences and severity nature of extreme weather events and disasters.

Speaking at the African Risk Capacity workshop for East and Southern Africa, ARC Spokesperson Chinedu Moghalu said the media plays an integral part in the risk management process therefore there should be efforts to incorporate them into the Disaster Risk Reduction management as stakeholders not mere journalists in order for them to get the full scope on how to report extensively on disasters.

Chinedu said media is indeed an important component of disaster risk management saying it is not simply a communication channel but it can bring about a behavioral change in the field of disaster risk management.

“There is need for the media to be incorporated in Disaster Risk Reduction as stakeholders not just journalists in order for them to fully understand how to write comprehensively when disasters strike, raise awareness before disasters and ultimately report fully on the aftermath of a disaster,” said Chinedu.

This call comes at a time when there is a critical need to enhance the understanding of journalists on disaster risk management and to build their capacities for playing a more effective role in uplifting national resilience through disaster risk communication.

Beyond the shadow of doubt, when journalists receive training on effective Disaster Risk Capacity reporting, they would amass knowledge and be able to develop news packages on disaster preparedness and mitigation of different hazards such as earthquake, flood, environmental pollution, urban fire, forest fire, road safety, and emergency response.
In addition to providing correct information and the right message at the right time, trainings accord the media a chance to create an environment for solidarity and trust which is much needed in augmenting the collective responsibility of all segments of society to tackle the challenges posed by any disaster.
The media can also can greatly influence the decisions of policymakers, legislators, communities, and other sectors in terms of reducing and responding to an emergency and disasters.

Zimbabwe Union of Journalists Secretary General Foster Dongozi said stakeholders stakeholders should also consider availing awarding platforms for journalists reporting on disasters to attract motivation.

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