By Patience Lunda:
Malawi and Mozambique have agreed to come up with a joint search and rescue agreement to cover all manner of disasters in the two countries.
According to the two governments, the agreement is a result of a spate of flood-related disasters in recent years.
In a statement released Thursday, signed by Minister of Transport and Public Works Jacob Hara and Mozambique’s Minister of Transport and Communications Mateus Magala, the two governments indicate that the agreement is a result of a resolution made by officials from the two sides who met from October 30 to November 2 2023.
According to the statement, the two countries have agreed to continue enhancing bilateral cooperation on transport facilitation in recognition of their shared understanding.
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Among other things, they have agreed to revise bilateral air service agreements, which will see the liberalisation of air transport and relaxation of non-physical barriers in as far as movement of people, goods and services is concerned in Africa.
On its part, Mozambique reconfirmed its commitment to facilitate the establishment of dry port facilities for Malawi at both Nacala and Beira, having granted Malawi a potential site at Nacala.
“The two countries also agreed on the need to come up with a joint search and rescue agreement to cover all manner of disasters and accidents between the two countries following spates of flood-related disasters in recent years,” the statement reads.
Commenting on the development, Department of Disaster Management Affairs Public Relations Officer Chipiliro Khamula said the joint search and rescue agreement would help in management of disasters and reduce disaster risks.
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Khamula added that coordination between the two countries will also be enhanced because during disasters, some displaced citizens seek refuge in either of the two countries.
“It is a welcome development because the two countries have been experiencing the same disasters and we have been hosting their displaced citizens just as they have been hosting ours and this agreement would help in proper coordination when there are disasters between us and communities affected,” he said.
Both Malawi and Mozambique were affected by Cyclone Idai in 2019, Tropical Storm Ana in 2022 and Cyclone Freddy in 2023, which killed, injured and displaced thousands of people.
