Kenya National Disaster Operation Centre

The Kenya National Disaster Operation Centre (NDOC) was established in 1998 to deal with management and co-ordination of disaster response at a national level in Kenya.^[1]

History

The NDOC was established in January 1998 by an act of Parliament to act as the focal point for co-ordinating response to emergencies and disasters in Kenya. It is on constant standby, with a reporting centre running 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, from which emergency operations, activities and events are recorded and communicated for action.

Functions of NDOC

The functions of NDOC are:

• To co-ordinate and control of disaster response efforts,
• To act as the command centre for all communications and information relating to response operations, and
• To liaise with responsible ministries on national response efforts.

Background

The Kenya National Disaster Operation Centre was established in 1998 in response to the El Nino rains to co-ordinate disaster management and response operations in Kenya.

Mission

The mission of the NDOC is to monitor, co-ordinate, mobilise national resources to respond to disaster incidents in the country

Vision

To be the leading focal point of disaster management and response in Kenya

Responsibilities

The responsibilities of the NDOC include:

• Coordination at the national level of all disaster management activities before, during and after the disaster
• Ensuring that all personnel and volunteer agencies are informed of the activation of disaster contingency plans
• Translating the decisions of the National Disaster Coordinating Committee (NDCC) into action and/or instructions and ensuring that those instructions are transmitted and carried out by the Ministries/Departments to whom they are directed
• Preparing all inventories of resources and assets countrywide
• Developing a prioritised list of needs for donors to meet shortfalls in relief supplies
• Preparation of evacuation plans, shelter and refugee areas including identification of executing agencies
• Arranging clearance for aircraft, ships as well as customs and visa clearance for overseas relief personnel and agencies
• Preparation of media programmes for public information and press briefings at the centre
• Carrying out an annual review, evaluation and validation of national and sectoral disaster mitigation plans with a view of improving their effectiveness and efficiency
• Preparing and issuing a daily situation report (SITREP) to the subscribing ministries/departments

References