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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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

Vision[edit]

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

Responsibilities[edit]

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[edit]