Lesotho’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Relations announced the signing of a landmark agreement creating the Southern African Development Community’s (SADC) Humanitarian and Emergency Operations Centre (SHOC). This vital initiative marks a significant step forward in the region’s ability to respond to disasters and emergencies.
The decision to establish SHOC was made by the SADC Council of Ministers in August 2019, reflecting a growing recognition of the need for coordinated regional action in the face of natural disasters and other crises. The Government of Mozambique stepped forward in March 2021, offering to host the center, a proposal subsequently approved by the Council of Ministers.