Kara – The current security situation in the Savanes region is of concern to development actors. Indeed, since November 2021, the northern part of Togo has been plagued by armed group incursions. Moreover, in recent days, heavy rains have been recorded in the Oti basin, and weather forecasts indicate a risk of overflowing rivers and water bodies, which could cause flooding in the prefectures of Kpendjal, Oti, Oti-Sud, Kéran, and Dankpen.

The effects of this situation impact the population on a daily basis. It disrupts their socio-economic activities, leads to massive displacement of people in search of shelter and increases social tensions. In view of the urgency of this situation and for an efficiency in the actions to be undertaken to assist the victims, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) organized, in collaboration with the National Agency for Civil Protection (ANPC), a consultation meeting of actors of the Regional Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (PRRRC) for the updating of the multi-hazard contingency plan of the Savanes region and a training session on post-disaster rapid assessment.

These two activities were conducted on 12 September 2022 and from 13 to 16 September 2022 respectively at the Kara Hotel. On the one hand, as the objective of the meeting was to update the contingency plan to ensure an immediate response to the outbreak of the Sahel crisis, it seemed important to identify the real needs of different sectors to better manage the crisis, prioritize the response activities and budget the key activities selected.

In addition, the group work allowed for a richer exchange between actors involved in disaster risk management. At the opening ceremony, the Deputy Director General of the ANPC, Mr Rahim OURO-SALIM, highlighted the importance of the revised contingency plan. “The new planning will consist in integrating sectoral data and determining the necessary actions and means to be implemented for a better preparation and effective response to possible emergencies in Togo in a bid to protect the population and their property,” he said.

The Prefect of Tône, Mr Yendoukoa TCHIMBIADJA, commended the various technical and financial partners for their willingness to support the government in strengthening the country’s resilience to disasters, especially the outbreak of the Sahel crisis which causes desolation among communities. Mr André KAGWA, IOM Project Officer, reaffirmed IOM’s willingness to support Togo in its efforts to ensure the safety of cross-border population and respond to humanitarian and security emergencies.

On the other hand, the lessons disseminated during the training helped to strengthen the PRRRC actors’ skills on post-disaster rapid assessment. More specifically, participants were trained in how to use tablets to collect, process and analyse post-disaster data. This training addresses the issue related to the lack of information on the impact, scope, and severity of a disaster in the post-disaster period when assisting the affected population. The training was provided by IOM and a team from ANPC.

IOM, it should be recalled, uses the Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) which is a tool that collects and analyses data to disseminate critical multi-level information on the mobility, vulnerabilities and needs of displaced persons as well as people on the move. At the national level, a single post-disaster rapid assessment form has been digitalized through the “KoboCollect” application and is in use since July 2020.

Finally, these activities are part of the project to build capacity in the northern borders of Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana and Togo implemented by IOM in partnership with the Ministry of Security and Civil Protection, and with funding from the US Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs.

For more information, please contact: Etienne BANGA, Head of Office IOM Togo, Email: ebanga@iom.int.