The measures include prevention, reduction and preparing for emergency management.  

Thousands of football lovers from many corners of the African continent are flooding Limbe for the 19 November female AFCON show. To ward off any risk of disaster or stampede, the city of friendship, as Limbe is fondly called, is leaving no stone unturned to ensure a smooth hosting of the guests from welcome to goodbye. One of the precautionary measures taken by the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Decentralisation (MINATD) has been to draw up an anti-disaster plan.

 A team of experts from the Department of Civil Protection of MINATD met local authorities of Health, Police, Gendarmerie, Military, Red Cross and civil society leaders during a two-day brainstorming workshop in Limbe, 10-11 November, 2016. The purpose as explained by the Director of Civil Protection. Mrs. Yap Mariatou, was to adopt a disaster-bumper plan. Such disasters, imminent to Limbe, include what the Senior Divisional Officer for Fako Division, Zang III, described to the press as natural and man-made.

Naturally, Limbe is a coastal city with over-flooding risk, towered by Mount Cameroon with its volcanic risk, as well as land-sliding risk from the slopes of surrounding hills. Man-made possibilities of disaster are equally present like pollution from local industries and their technology.  To relate the plan of safety for Limbe to the current event, the experts simulated a collapse of one corner of the stadium causing a stampede. The question to answer was; how are persons saved in the circumstance?

To tackle the question and ensure safety for the teeming population, the workshop members recalled the context of the 1998 Decree bearing on urgency plans and assistance in case of major risks or catastrophes. Specifically for Limbe, they envisaged a scenario, studied alert systems and practiced how to circumscribe or organise and define the various levels of responsibility and agreed on the methods. Every safety plan, experts held sway, must consider preventing disasters, reducing hazards and preparing for emergencies.