The Minister of Territorial Administration, Atanga Nji Paul, has warned against constructing houses in risk areas. He was speaking on March 1st 2023, World Civil Protection Day, at Mimboman, a locality in Yaounde IV, which recorded two landslides with three deaths.
The minister emphasized that building construction should be done after obtaining building permit. He warned against unauthorized raising of architecture which can result in drastic loss of lives and huge cost for the nation in an outevent of a landslide. He called on leaders to raise awareness on the importance of respecting construction standards. “Today is the international day of civil protection and it is a day of sensitization. It is a day to take stock of the activities of the field and sensitize tbe population. We are here in Mimboman because last year three people died here after a landslide and we came here purposely with the governor, the SDO, the DO and the mayor to see this place. This is a swampy area and if it rains heavily, all those living in this environment would have a difficult situation and the risk is there. In case a landslide happens in the night it will be very dangerous. We are coming to tell the people that it is extremely dangerously to build in a swampy area. I am talking to the governor, the SDOs and Mayor, especially the mayors to sensitize the population because in case of casualty the government would have to pay the heavy price…Governors have said these houses don’t have any building permit” Minister Atanga Nji said in relation to civil protection.
Minister Atanga Nji, was speaking at Mimboman, where people had gathered
for the commemoration of civil protection day. Present were the governor of the center region, SDOs, DOs, the sixth deputy mayor of Yaounde IV, traditional rulers, civil protection agents from MINAT led by Madam Ndzie Ntsama Angèle, Director of Civil Protection and the community of Prestige International Nursery and Primary school” (a school around the landslide areas).
At the Mimboman neighborhood, were posters carrying messages of civil protection. Commemoration continued at the MINAT conference hall with exposés on disaster identification, prevention and management. This was presided by the Secretary General, Yves Christian Edoa Effa. In line with the day’s theme “The role of information technology in risk assessment”, the SG said the use of information technologies for disaster risk management is useful both at the national and individual levels as technologically developed detectors can save a damage.
Two exposés were presented by staff from MINAT’S department of Civil Protection; Madame Mbeng Enama Desire, presented on “the role of the Division of Civil Protection” while Mr Mbarga Constantin Jacques Michel, presented on “the importance of geographic information systems in risk assessment in Cameroon”.
They explained that civil protection is a device designed to deal with emergency situations of all origins with the purpose to protect man and ensure his wellbeing in the society against disaster. There was also a practical session on how to assist a person in difficulty of breathing.
The talks also focused on the importance of geographic information systems in the implementation of civil defense missions in Cameroon. It was said that “CRYSIS” is a geographical information system used by the civil protection office of MINAT data to provide data on early warnings, especially for floods, droughts, extortions and terrorist attacks. The civil protection agents called on all to be the eye of the ministry by identifying disaster zones and alerting security officials or the civil protection office. They stressed that disaster identification, prevention and management is essential.
The commemoration of civil protection day is an international event inspired by the international Civil Defense Organisation. The theme of the year 2023 is “The role of information technology in risk assessment” Activities to mark the event, took place across the ten regions of Cameroon.
PHOTO: Rubbles of a building that collapsed at Mimboman, Yaoundé killing three persons