DILI, 27 march 2024 (TATOLI) – Mercy Corps, European Union, and KOICA have officially handed over 16 Early Warning System devices to the Government of Timor-Leste through the National Directorate of Meteorology and Geophysics (DNMG), Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunication. Developing the early warning system technology in Dili was a component of Mercy Corps’ European Union-funded Maloa Urban Resilience Initiative, and Mercy Corps’ KOICA-funded PREPARADU project.
Mercy Corps’ PREPARADU project is implemented in Dili with the aim to enhance preparation and response to floods and tsunamis, as well as provide capacity building to first responders through community-level disaster risk reduction work in collaboration with the Civil Protection Authority at the national level. Disaster Management Committees in 15 vulnerable sucos have been supported by providing the necessary knowledge to improve disaster preparedness at the community level. Sucos include: Villa Verde, Motael, Caicoli, Mascarenhas, Colmera, Fatuhada, Campo Alor, Bairo Pite, Dare, Comoro, Bemori, Santa Cruz, Bidau Akadiruhun, Bidau Santana, Bidau Lecidere and Culuhun.
The Maloa Urban Resilience Initiative financed by the EU aims to improve climate resilience in the Maloa watershed through landscape and ecosystem management, climate-sensitive economic development, and business recovery. This initiative is implemented in six vulnerable sucos within Dili, including Villa Verde, Motael, Colmera, Campo Alor, Bairo Pite, and Dare.
At the event, the EU Ambassador Marc Fiedrich highlighted that these Early Warning Systems will help the Government to increase its capacity to gather reliable real time weather data, improve weather forecasting and ultimately be able to inform timely the stakeholders, including community members on any imminent climate risks.
“We know how Timor Leste is sensitive to climate hazards. You have already experienced in the past climate related disasters such as the flash flood that occurred on April 4, 2021. Unfortunately, other climate events may happen in the future. A robust system that provides accurate information combined with a Government and people prepared for any emergency is the key for reducing the loss of lives and property,” he added.
Mercy Corps’ role in early warning system implementation included:
- Coordination with the Government institutions and relevant stakeholder in identifying location and devices for the installation.
- Community awareness raising in ensuring the community well understood about the early warning system, the functions and act when receiving the alert messages.
- Provide funding support to implement the early warning system through the private sector.
The early warning system developed by local private company Similie and installed in coordination with stakeholders and community members is a significant step towards disaster preparedness. The Early Warning System comprises of 16 stations. The devices including water level sensors, all-weather stations, soil moisture sensors, and rainfall gauges, the system can record 11 parameters such as rain, wind, air temperature, air pressure, humidity, vapor, lighting, fire index, drought index, soil humidity, and soil temperature. The data collected from these stations are automatically recorded in the DNMG system, providing up-to-date weather and disaster events information in real-time. This information will be beneficial to the community living in disaster-prone areas as it will help them secure their belongings and evacuate when a disaster takes place. Additionally, it will aid the Civil Protection Authority and Sucos Disaster Management Committee, as well as national or local authorities, with preparation actions and rapid response.
The installation of this early warning system is a significant step towards mitigating the impact of disasters on communities. The system’s ability to provide real-time information on weather events and disaster situations will enable authorities to take timely action and prevent loss of life and property.
Journalist: Camilio de Sousa
Editor: Filomeno Martins
