Eastern Africa Standby Force Five-Day Workshop Kicks Off In Entebbe

Uganda is hosting the Eastern Africa Standby Force (EASF) representatives for a five-day workshop on Humanitarian Assistance and Natural Disaster Support (HANDS).

HANDS aims to improve regional disaster response and humanitarian capabilities.

The workshop, organized by the EASF secretariat, focuses on mapping and validating member states’ disaster management capacities in response to challenges such as floods, landslides, famine, and pandemics.

Brigadier General David Gonyi, Chief of Staff of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) Air Force, delivered an address in Entebbe on Monday.

He spoke on behalf of the Chief of Joint Staff, emphasising the importance of regional cooperation in dealing with humanitarian and disaster crises.

Gonyi emphasized the African Union’s call for member states to strengthen collective resilience.

“The need for us to collaborate, the need to bring different capabilities together, because different individuals, countries, and agencies have different capacities. Bringing them together and coordinating their efforts is what will make us an effective team,” Brig Gen Gonyi stated.

He reiterated President Yoweri Museveni’s message about patriotism and pan-Africanism as critical strategies for fostering unity and addressing humanitarian issues.

“These principles are vital for addressing humanitarian and disaster challenges, which demand a spirit of cooperation that transcends borders and identities,” he added.

The primary goal of the workshop, according to Gonyi, was to strengthen the East African Standby Force as a viable disaster management option for member states.

He encouraged delegates to use this opportunity to leave a lasting legacy by helping to develop a comprehensive disaster response plan.

Eric Swaleh, a consultant for the workshop, highlighted the workshop’s significance in disaster and emergency management, underlining the need to validate capabilities for effective response and prevent negative outcomes.

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The regional facilitator, Col Anthony Naibei, acknowledged the commitment of member states and delegates, emphasizing the collaborative effort required to create a guiding document for those who were unable to attend the workshop.

Naibei emphasized the importance of the workshop in developing a roadmap to improve disaster response capabilities, encouraging participants to contribute effectively because their efforts could save lives.