[ Interview with Silvano Langa, National Disasters Management Institute, Mozambique ]

“Disasters do not occur only in Africa”

Dr. Langa, what was the most important discovery you made on your fact-finding trip through eastern Germany?
The most impressive thing was seeing practical examples of the whole chain of responsibility and the flow of information – from federal government through state and regional bodies to local authorities. What was also impressive was the sense of commitment in Bitterfeld at local level. People there have learned lessons from the awful experience of the flooding and revised the disaster management system accordingly – by improving laws and procedures and by involving scientists.

Could that be a model for your work in Mozambique?
Yes, I think it could be a very useful guiding principle. And my colleagues on the fact-finding trip from the other three countries agree. What was also important for us was to see how intensively the voluntary and private sectors were involved in the rescue work. That is something that did not happen when we were hit in Mozambique by the floods of 2000. But now we are going to try and persuade the Mozambican business community of the importance of such solidarity.

Have you made any contacts in Germany that will be of use to you in the future?
Yes, we’ve made lots of contacts, and I think we will use quite a few of them. For example, with regard to insurance and assessment of the economic damage toll of a disaster. In Germany, you have many institutions with lots of experience in risk appraisal.

Did you also make cautionary findings, see things you definitely want to avoid in Mozambique?
Yes, we need to realise that disasters can occur anywhere. Germany failed to learn from the experience of the Oder flooding in 1997 and, as a result, was hit very hard by the Elbe flooding five years later. The people and even the politicians seem to have assumed that disasters like these two floodings occur only in Africa or Latin America. Which is wrong, of course. We must always assume that even a small river can cause a catastrophe. But here in Germany we have also seen what can be done to prevent a catastrophe if the risk is taken seriously. And that was an inspiring experience for us.
Questions by Dirk Asendorpf.