Addis Ababa: Ethiopia’s Deputy Prime Minister, Temesgen Tiruneh stated that the country is working to meet its humanitarian needs through its own capacity.

The Deputy PM made the remark while chairing a regular meeting of the Ethiopian Disaster Risk Management Council.

Regional presidents, mayors, ministers, and heads of various institutions were in attendance at the meeting.

On the occasion, Temesgen, who is also the chairman of the council, said a new policy has been put in place to enhance Ethiopia’s disaster risk management and enable the nation to address humanitarian needs through its own means.

The Deputy PM stressed the need to build self-reliance in disaster preparedness, response and recovery efforts, ensuring planned activities are implemented systematically.

He expressed confidence that favorable conditions exist for Ethiopia to successfully realize the major aspiration of managing disasters through its own capacity.

Temesgen cited the outcomes achieved so far in areas like the Green Legacy
Initiative, Wheat and rice cultivation and production and others as encouraging signs since the reform began.

However, he underlined that a cultural shift is necessary to overcome aid dependency and meet needs independently, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing development.

The Deputy PM stated that as both natural and man-made disasters are unavoidable, it is essential to develop the capacity for self-sustainability and disaster response.

Disasters Risk Management Commissioner Shiferaw Teklemariam said for his part that the new policy intends to mitigate disasters, which are becoming more complex, by own capacity.

The main tasks to be carried out in accordance with the policy include risk reduction, improved preparedness, resource mobilization, and developing one’s own capacity to sustainably deliver humanitarian assistance, he added.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency