New pilot project helps Basotho be prepared for and avoid disasters

On the 10^th August 2010, the District Disaster Management Team of Thaba-Tseka launched the implementation of Koma-Koma community-based disaster risk management pilot project. Over 300 community members including pupils from Koma-Koma primary school attended the ceremony. During the launch, two sign boards with early warning messages, 10 life jackets and one boat were delivered to the community by the Thaba-Tseka District Administrator. School children, women, and men presented songs and traditional dances to grace the occasion.

A warning sign that was put up at the Senqu River

The community-based disaster risk management pilot project is being implemented under the UNDP/BCPR funded project ‘Enhancing National and Local Capacity to Disaster Risk Reduction in Lesotho’. The pilot project was selected following a community-based disaster risk assessment exercise that was conducted in three pilot districts between November and December 2009. The two main objectives of the assessment were a) to demonstrate the ways in which risk information can be applied to improve risk management decision-making, and b) to reduce disaster risks by helping the community to identify disaster related problems and then implement actions to improve the situation.

 The assessment results from the three districts revealed that Mohlanapeng Community Council experienced the worst disaster risk due to flooding of Senqu River particularly at a bridge in Koma-Koma village. The assessment revealed that, between December and February of every year, at least 25-35 people drown in Senqu River at this bridge. The community attributed the flooding at this site to the occasional release of water from Katse dam combined with heavy rainfall during the summer season.

The project activities to be implemented over a period of six months include conducting disaster risk reduction awareness training, establishment of early warning systems, strengthening search and rescue, and upgrading of Koma-Koma bridge.  Furthermore advocacy for construction of a tall bridge is planned as a long term mitigation measure.

The primary actors in the project are the community themselves led by Koma-Koma Village Disaster Management Team with support from Thaba-Tseka District Disaster Management Team. The project is funded by UNDP/BCPR through the Office of the Prime Minister, Disaster Management Authority, and is also receiving additional technical and material support from other actors like Lesotho Highlands Development Authority (LHDA), Department of Rural Roads and Rural Water Supply in Thaba-Tseka.

Officials at Koma Koma Bridge during the Launch