Integrated management of disasters and lands - Togo on Saturday launched a four-year project for an integrated management of disasters and lands.
The FCFA 8.5 billion project, which is financed by the World Bank, aims at preventing and addressing natural disasters in an effective way and strengthening measures already in place to reduce risks and impacts of disasters at the national and local levels.
The project covers several areas, including the reinforcement of institutions and sensitization and activities at the community level to better address climate change issues. It also deals with better management of lands, establishment of early warning and follow-up systems.
The project will in the long run ensure the restoration of the ecosystem to minimize floods for sustainable agricultural and forestry practices, according to the Ministry of Environment.
The representative of the World Bank in Togo, Herve Assah, said the project was part of the national investment program for environment and natural resources.
Togo experienced devastating floods in 2007 floods that caused huge damage in the West African country.
In 2010 the cost of the rehabilitation and reconstruction following such a disaster in the country amounted to over FCFA 20 billion, according to official sources.
Pana 16/02/2013