NDRRMC

THE NATIONAL DISASTER RISK REDUCTION AND MANAGEMENT CENTRE

Mauritius is a Small Island Developing State (SIDS) vulnerable to severe weather events and natural disasters such as cyclones, storm and tidal surges, torrential rains, floods and flash floods, landslides, tsunami as well as man-induced disasters. According to the World Risk Report 2019, Mauritius has now become the 47th country with the highest disaster risk as compared to the 2018 ranking whereby we were the 16th country with the highest disaster risk and the 10th most exposed to natural hazards.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act 2016

The legal framework governing Disaster Risk Management is The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act 2016, which has as object:

(a) prevention and reduction of the risk of disasters

(b) mitigation of the adverse impacts of disasters;

(d) effective response to disasters; and

(e) management of post-disaster activities, including recovery and rehabilitation.

National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council

The Act also provides for the setting up of a National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, which shall, inter alia, oversee the implementation of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Policy, National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Strategic Framework and National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Plan. The National Council shall also lay down national guidelines for disaster risk reduction and management at all levels.

National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Centre (NDRRMC)

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Centre (NDRRMC) acts as the main coordinating body of the Ministry for the planning, organizing, coordinating and monitoring of disaster risk reduction and management activities at all levels.

The NDRRMC operates under the supervision of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, and is the primary coordinating agency for national disaster management activities in the Republic of Mauritius, and takes a pro-active all-hazard, multi-agency approach to risk management that emphasizes building capacity at all levels from the individual to the institutional.

The NDRRMC coordinates with all stakeholders to ensure that risk reduction and preparedness planning is included at the required levels namely at national, municipal and district councils, private sector and communities’ levels.

National Crisis Committee (NCC)

The National Crisis Committee (NCC) is convened in crisis situation under the chair of the Minister of Local Government and Disaster Risk Management. The National Crisis Committee shall have all the functions and powers of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council and shall take decisive and timely actions through the National Emergency Operations Command (NEOC) to safeguard the life of persons in danger. Depending upon the extent, magnitude and severity of the threat, the multi-agencied NEOC is activated to coordinate and monitor all preparedness, response, relief and recovery activities associated with the event.

The management of crises/emergencies/disasters operates on a three-tiers system involving the National Crisis Committee at Minister’s level, the NEOC at national level and the Local Emergency Operations Command (LEOC) at municipal/district council levels. The NDRRMC also includes a Documentation Cell to ensure accessibility of disaster related information and is open to the public during office hours.

More about the National Disaster Risk Reduction & Management Centre

The National Disaster Risk Reduction & Management Centre (NDRRMC) has been administratively set up since 23rd October 2013.

It is acts as the focal institution for the State of Mauritius for the planning, organizing, coordinating and monitoring of disaster risk reduction and management activities at all levels,

It is responsible to develop, in line with National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Policy, a National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Strategic Framework and Plan for approval by the Council and to ensure their implementation.

Objectives of the NDRRMC

(a) Be responsible for coordinating the implementation of:-

(i) the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Policies; and

(ii) the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Strategic Framework and Plans developed by the NDRRMC.

(b) Promote a culture of safety and resilience at all levels through the use of knowledge, innovation and education.

(c) Coordinate the implementation of the obligations of the State/Republic of Mauritius under disaster management treaties to which the State is a party, through its disaster risk management policies, frameworks, plans, programmes and projects.

(d) Review or amend the National Disaster Scheme (NDS) as and when required.

Activities of NDRRMC

Timely response to emergency situations through the activation of the National Emergency Operations Command (NEOC), for the monitoring and coordination of ground operations by First Responders.

Empowering vulnerable communities to be ready for disasters through the Community Disaster Response Programme (CDRP) whereby participants are initiated to basic rescue techniques.
Assist Local Authorities in the preparation of Contingency Plans for vulnerable areas.

Sensitising people in vulnerable areas on Disaster Risk Reduction through Training Programmes, Lectures and Workshops.

Provide information of Disaster Risk Reduction through the Documentation Cell at the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Centre.

National Crisis Committee

Depending on the magnitude and severity of a disaster, the Crisis Committee or the Council is convened under the chairmanship of the Minister in order:

(a) take decisive actions to safeguard the life of persons in danger, including evacuation of persons at risk owing to age or some disability, women, children and persons detained in an institution;

(b) supervise the organisation of disaster response operations;

(d) take such other measures, after consultation with the Prime Minister, as may be appropriate in the circumstances.

National Emergency Operations Command (NEOC)

A National Emergency Operations Command (NEOC) is established within the NDRRMC and is activated whenever a disaster or any other major crisis becomes imminent.
The NEOC is multi-agency, comprising representatives from Ministries/Departments, other emergency services, NGO’s and Private Sectors. The NEOC is activated solely for the purpose of coordinating all activities during a disaster and makes use of the well-established command, control, coordination and communication system of the Police so as to avoid unnecessary duplication of resources. Depending upon the magnitude and severity or potential magnitude or severity of a crisis/disaster situation, the NEOC may be activated at three levels:

Level I: Monitoring of situation by NDRRMC

Level II: Monitoring by NDRRMC staff assisted by representatives from main first responders

Level III: Full scale activation with designated NEOC Members

Local Disaster Risk Reduction & Management Committees (LDRRMC)

Local Disaster Risk Reduction & Management Committees (LDRRMC) have been established within all Municipal and District Councils along with the appointment of Local Disaster Management Coordinators. With the support of the NDRRMC, simulation exercises conducted at Municipal and District Councils levels as per an annual simulation calendar are significantly contributing to strengthen their arrangements in support of identifying, mitigating and responding to identified threats.

Local Emergency Operations Command (LEOC)

At the level of Municipal/District Councils, a Local Emergency Operations Command (LEOC) has been established and is activated whenever a disaster or any other crisis becomes imminent within the area of jurisdiction and reports to the NEOC. The LEOC is multi-agency and is headed by the Mayor/ President of District Council. The LEOC is activated solely for the purpose of coordinating all activities during a disaster and makes use of the well-established command, control, co-ordination and communication system of the Police so as to avoid unnecessary duplication of resources, as far as practicable.

Community Disaster Response Programme (CDRP)

The Community Disaster Response Programme (CDRP) aims at:

(a) training volunteers by initiating them to basic safety and rescue techniques;

(b) enhancing a culture of risk reduction within the population; and

When emergencies occur, the trained community members are expected to provide immediate assistance to victims, give critical support to responding authorities and organise spontaneous volunteers at a disaster site.

Building the capacity of the community to respond to disasters and to inculcate a culture of risk reduction within the population is among the objectives of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Centre (NDRRMC) and is in line with the Sendai Framework of Action 2015-2030.

National Disaster Scheme (NDS) 

The National Disasters Scheme (NDS) has traditionally been used as the primary source of information for agencies and individuals working in preparation and response to identified threats. The NDS is intended to be a functional document to support agencies and stakeholders in understanding and undertaking their roles, responsibilities and actions in emergencies. It is understood that certain organisations or ministries do not presently have the capacities to meet their roles and responsibilities defined under the various schemes of the NDS. Such organisations or ministries will have to develop these capabilities in the years to come. The ultimate aim of the NDS is to enhance safety of citizens

Flood prone life threatening/critical sites

As per information collected in March 2019, from the 12 Local Authorities, the National Development Unit (NDU) and the Road Development Authority (RDA), some 480 sites have been identified across the island as being affected at varying degree by water accumulation and flooding.

Out of these 480 identified sites, 56 sites are considered to be life threatening/critical and may cause serious disruption to socio-economic activities. These have to be addressed as a matter of urgency.

The structural / hard measures (drains) which have to be implemented in these 56 life threatening/critical sites are being monitored by the Land Drainage Authority.

At the level of the NDRRMC, three major actions (soft measures) have been undertaken with regard to the 56 life threatening/critical sites, as follows:

·      Implementing Community Disaster Response Programme (CDRP);
·      Sensitisation Campaigns; and
·      Development of Emergency / Contingency Plans.

Moreover, the NDRRMC is also assisting the local authorities to prepare the respective emergency / contingency plans for these 40 regions. During the CDRP, the community is also sensitised on basic precautionary measures, amongst others.

Landslide Risks

There are three identified potential landslide areas in Mauritius: Quatre Soeurs, Vallée Pitot and Chitrakoot. In these areas specific landslide monitoring equipment has been installed and the community sensitised.

Heavy Rainfall Protocol for the Public Sector

A Heavy Rainfall Protocol for the Public Sector has been established and it falls under the purview of the Ministry of Public Service, Administrative and Institutional Reforms. The Protocol may be accessed (here).

Contact Us

The Officer in Charge

National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Centre

6^th Floor, Citadelle Mall

Corner Louis Pasteur and Sir Virgil Naz Streets

Port Louis

Mauritius

Tel: 207 3900

Fax: 207 3927

 Key Staff of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Centre

S.N	Names	Designation	Tel office	E-mail Address
1	Mr. A.K. Dip	Officer-in-Charge	2073901
2	Mr. A. Sookhareea	Superintendent of Police	2073908	asookhareea@govmu.org
3	Mr. R. S. Mungra	Chief Inspector of Police	2073909	rmungra@govmu.org
4	Mr. H. Bissessur	Coordinator for Community Mobilisation & Local Community Support	2073914	hbissessur@govmu.org
5	Mr. V. Sunnassy	Coordinator for Community Mobilisation & Local Community Support	2073902	vsunnassy@govmu.org
6	Mrs. S. Appadoo	Coordinator for Community Mobilisation & Local Community Support	2073916	shappadoo@govmu.org
7	Mr. P. Rughoo	Information & Communication Manager	2073903	prrughoo@govmu.org
8	Mr H. K. Mohit	Inspector of Police	2073917	hkmohit@govmu.org
9	Mr. K. Jayeprokash	Inspector of Police	2073910	kjayeprokash@govmu.org
10	Mr. K. Bucha	Meteorologist/ Senior Meteorologist	2073912
11	Mrs. S. Cyparsade	Disaster Monitoring Officer	2073906	scyparsade@govmu.org
12	Mr. Y. Reesaul	ICT Specialist (Response)	2073907	yreesaul@govmu.org

Ministry of Local Government and Disaster Risk Management

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