National Disaster Management Act, no. 13 of 2008

This Act, divided into fourteen chapters, provides for ensuring an integrated and coordinated disaster management that focuses on prevention, preparedness, response, mitigation, and recovery from disasters or emergency situations; for improving the management of their effects; for establishing a National Disaster Management Agency and Regional, District and Village Disaster Management Committees. The Act defines the following relevant terms: disaster, including: flood, drought, major fire or bush fire or explosion, air and maritime disasters, man-made disasters, pest or insect infestation, a plague or epidemic; disaster area; disaster fund; disaster management; mitigation measures; non-government agency; preparation; prevention; recovery; Village Disaster Management Plan. Chapter 2 concerns the National disaster management Agency and focuses on the following matters: establishment of the Agency; establishment and functions of the disaster management Council; meetings and procedure of the Council; functions of the Agency and of the Council, including: coordinating governmental, local and non-government entities actions, cooperating with the United Nations agencies and other international organisations, carrying out disaster management, preparing, updating, maintaining implementing and monitoring the National Disaster Plans, laying down guidelines on disaster management, ensuring proper and efficient use of disaster funds, developing strategies and policies for the prevention of, preparation for, response to, mitigation of, and recovery from disasters, establishing emergency communication systems, providing shelter, food, drinking water, essential provisions, healthcare and humanitarian services. Further matters covered by this Chapter include: establishment of national technical advisory group; appointment of the staff of the agency; financial provisions.
Chapter 3 concerns the establishment and composition of disaster management committees; functions of the national and regional committees; roles and duties of the regional technical advisory groups. Chapter 4 concerns establishment, composition and functions of the district disaster management committees. Chapter 5 concerns establishment, functions and composition of the village disaster management committees. Chapter 6 focuses on disaster management plan, including measures to be taken for prevention of disasters, integration of mitigation measures into the plans, preparedness and capacity building. Chapter 7 covers government disaster management measures, including deployment of security services and establishment of institutions for research, training, and development programmes in the field of disaster management. Chapter 8 provides for evacuation measures. Chapter 9 concerns general powers and assistance during period of disaster; protection of employees who assist in emergency situations. Chapter 10 provides for declaration of state of public emergency and measures connected therewith, including disconnection of water and energy supply. Chapter 11 concerns compensation and other forms of relief. Chapter 12 establishes the national disaster fund, the regional and district disaster funds. Chapter 13 concerns offences and penalties. Chapter 14 concerns miscellaneous provisions and power to issue Regulations.