printer friendly version

Disaster under the spotlight

Disaster relief and the management of disasters - both manmade and natural - will be under the spotlight at the African Disaster Management & Relief Expo and Conference 2001 (DM&R!) in Johannesburg in October.

Some of the world's leading experts in the field will be addressing the conference, and more than 30 crisis and relief suppliers have already booked exhibition space.

The supply of goods and services to relief projects in Africa is big business and, in 2000, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) alone purchased R64,448 million worth of South African products for distribution in sub-Saharan Africa. Both UNICEF and the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) maintain purchasing offices in Pretoria.

The conference and exhibition, to be held from 23 to 25 October, at the Kyalami Exhibition Centre, will be Africa's first gathering of implementers, intermediaries, suppliers and policy makers.

South African companies provide relief agencies throughout Africa with items such as shelter and field equipment, communications equipment, medical hygiene kits, water and sanitation and transportation equipment, and South African made goods are being used for relief work in places such as Angola, Somalia and the Great Lakes region of central Africa.

"Every part of the world is constantly plagued by disaster - and Africa is no exception. Disaster can come in many forms not just those caused by war or famine. Recently, the continent has seen sports stadium disasters such as Ellis Park in Johannesburg, and in Accra, Ghana, says Bette McNaughton, Conference Organiser.

The DM&R! conference will address such issues as marine disaster containment, fire prevention, trauma and crowd control at mass gatherings. Speakers include some of the world's top experts in these fields.

"Our invited speakers are among the most pre-eminent experts in their field and have been chosen because of their influence and impact in the field," says McNaughton. "DM&R! draws together a widespread range of expertise and decision-makers from all parts of sub-Saharan Africa."

Exhibitors include representatives from all facets of disaster management, ranging from first aid companies through to suppliers of environmentally friendly flood prevention systems.

For further details contact Bette McNaughton on tel: (021) 683 1117.

Share this article:

Further reading: