DISASTER RISK MANAGEMENT

CHAPTER 33:05
DISASTER RISK MANAGEMENT

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS

    SECTION

PART I
PRELIMINARY

    1.    Short title

    2.    Interpretation

PART II
NATIONAL DISASTER RISK MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE AND NATIONAL DISASTER RISK MANAGEMENT TECHNICAL SUB-COMMITTEE

    3.    Establishment and composition of the National Disaster Risk Management Committee

    4.    Tenure of office and vacancies

    5.    Co-opted persons

    6.    Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson of the National Committee

    7.    Allowances of members of the National Committee

    8.    Functions of the National Committee

    9.    Powers of the National Committee

    10.    Meetings of the National Committee

    11.    Establishment and membership of the National Disaster Risk Management Technical Sub-Committee

    12.    Functions of the Technical Sub-Committee

    13.    Sub-committees

PART III
COMMISSIONER FOR DISASTER RISK MANAGEMENT

    14.    Establishment of the office of Commissioner

    15.    Functions of the Commissioner

PART IV
LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA DISASTER RISK MANAGEMENT

    16.    Local government area disaster risk management

    17.    Local government disaster risk management committees

    18.    Functions of local government disaster risk management committees

    19.    Area disaster risk management committees

    20.    Local authority disaster risk management officer

    21.    Disaster risk management volunteers

PART V
DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND RISK MANAGEMENT

    22.    Disaster risk assessment and reduction

    23.    Disaster Risk Management Plan

    24.    Disaster preparedness

    25.    Disaster risk management information systems

    26.    Establishment of an integrated early warning system

    27.    Education and training

    28.    Simulation exercises

    29.    Annual equipment certification

    30.    Abatement of danger

    31.    General obligation on disaster risk management

PART VI
HIGH-RISK AREAS

    32.    Declaration of high-risk areas

    33.    Development of high-risk areas

    34.    Relocation and resettlement procedure

    35.    Unlawful occupation of high-risk areas

PART VII
DISASTER RESPONSE AND RECOVERY

    36.    Commissioner to facilitate timely, etc.; disaster response

    37.    Declaration of a state of disaster

    38.    Duties and powers of the Commissioner during a state of disaster

    39.    Entry, search and rescue

    40.    Evacuation of persons

    41.    Compliance with evacuation directions

    42.    Duration of stay in evacuation centres

    43.    Management of evacuation centres

    44.    Disaster recovery programme

PART VIII
INTERNATIONAL RELIEF ASSISTANCE

    45.    Appeal for international relief assistance

    46.    Commencement and termination of international relief assistance

    47.    Obligations of the Commissioner

    48.    Obligations of assisting international actors

PART IX
DISASTER RISK MANAGEMENT TRUST FUND

    49.    Establishment and management of a Disaster Risk Management Trust Fund

PART X
OFFENCES AND PENALTIES

    50.    Offences and penalties

PART XI
MISCELLANEOUS

    51.    Accountability and utilization of relief assistance

    52.    Annual reports

    53.    Utility service providers to provide disaster contingency and early recovery plans

    54.    Protection from liability

    55.    Regulations

    56.    By-laws

    57.    Repeals and savings

27 of 2023
G.N. 65/2023

    An Act to provide for disaster preparedness, risk reduction, response and recovery; the establishment of the National Disaster Risk Management Committee and the National Disaster Risk Management Technical Sub-Committee; the establishment of the office of Commissioner for Disaster Risk Management; and matters incidental thereto

PART I
PRELIMINARY

1.    Short title

    This Act may be cited as the Disaster Risk Management Act.

2.    Interpretation

    In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires—

    “assisting actor” means any individual or organization responding to a disaster;

    “disaster” means a serious disruption of the functioning of a community at any scale involving widespread human, material, social, cultural, economic or environmental loss or impact, which exceeds the ability of the affected community to respond, cope and recover using its own resources;

    “disaster area” means a geographical area, within the territory of Malawi, where a disaster has occurred;

    “disaster response” means the provision of emergency services and assistance during or immediately after a disaster in order to save lives, reduce health impact of the disaster, ensure public safety and meet the basic subsistence needs of the affected persons or community;

    “disaster risk” means the potential disaster associated with loss of life, health status, livelihoods, assets and services, which may occur to a particular community over a period of time;

    “disaster risk management” means a systematic process of using administrative systems and structures to implement policies and strategies to—

    (a)    reduce the risk of an existing disaster or prevent future risk;

    (b)    mitigate the severity or impact of a disaster;

    (c)    promote and support emergency preparedness;

    (d)    provide rapid and effective response and coordination to disasters; and

    (e)    promote post-disaster recovery and rehabilitation interventions, including resilience building;

    “District Commissioner” includes a Chief Executive Officer of a City, Municipality or Town Council;

    “early warning system” means an integrated system of hazard monitoring, forecasting and prediction, and includes structures and processes that enable individuals,…