USD 4 million has been earmarked for the fight against climate change in Sierra Leone. This was disclosed at an UN organized validation workshop on the theme “Strengthening climate information and early warning systems in Western and Central Africa for climate resilient development and adaption to climate change – Sierra Leone”.
The $ 4 million is to run for a four-year span starting this year.
Chairman of the workshop, Abu Bakarr S Massaquoi of Global Environment Facility Country Support Programme said that disasters were not new to human experiences and much of humanity still felt helpless or believed itself punished by human hazards. Statistics he went on showed that between 1980 and 2010 1,337 deaths had occurred with 234,659 persons affected as a result of disasters.
Massaquoi said that early warning was the provision of timely and effective information through identified institutions which would allow individuals exposed to hazard to take action to mitigate the risk and increase their response.
Portfolio Manager Environment and Disaster Relief Management, UNDP, Mariatu Swaray explained that “the absence of an effective early warning system which the present metrological office or other agencies cannot provide, means that there is little warning for people to flee or put measures in place for any pending disasters”.
She said that UNDP was concerned about the impact of climate change and its hindrance to efforts made by the country towards economic independence and social security, adding that the country needed not look at the past efforts, but should review the new and upcoming strategies within which the project could be effectively implemented effectively.
The Director of Sierra Leone Meteorological Department, Alpha Bockarie, said that they were grateful for the technical and managerial assistance given to them by UNDP. He said there was the need to put mechanism in place for early warning adding that disasters could be predicted.
The project will enhanced the capacities of the Metrological Department and other environment and disaster management institutions to monitor extreme weather and climate change for efficient and effective use of hydro-meteorological and environmental information. This will develop early warning strategies and long-term development plans.
There are at present six weather stations sponsored by UNDP all over the country. They are situated at Fourah Bay College, Njala, Rokuprr Rice Research Station, Lungi Airport, Kenema Airfield and Kabala, with a request to transfer the Kabala weather station to Bumbuna.
There is only one meteorologist in the whole of Sierra Leone.
