DILI, 24 november 2021 (TATOLI) – Secretary of State for Civil Protection (SSCP), in cooperation with other relevant ministries and development partners, begin preparing the conditions to face the ‘La Niña’ phenomenon in Timor-Leste.
SSCP begins disseminating information to alert the communities about the worst impacts of La Niña in the future.
“We have started our preparation for the mitigation and prevention of the worst impacts of the ‘La Niña’ phenomenon. Thus, we had started disseminating information on the effects of La Niña. It is important to raise the awareness of the communities, particularly those who are living in the riskiest places for natural disasters, including river banks, hills, and beaches. They need to prepare to be evacuated to the safest places during heavy rains and storms,” State Secretary for Civil Protection, Joaquim José Gusmão dos Reis Martins told TATOLI at his office in Dili, on Wednesday.
Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology and Global ENSO Analysis Cell had revealed that Timor-Leste is one of the countries to be impacted by La Niña.
SSCP had carried out several activities to raise the awareness of the communities about the worst effects of La Niña, including TV Talk Show, and spreading messages through three telecommunication companies – Timor-Telecom, Telemor, and Telkomsel.
Martins said Timor-Leste’s Firefighters had been trained to rescue the community members in any difficult situation such as flooding, storms, etc: “So, SEPS is ready to help the communities if La Niña hits the country.”
SSCP had established cooperation with humanitarian and international partners to help vulnerable and disaster-affected communities.
“Currently, we are putting efforts to move those communities who are still living in the areas that are prone to natural disaster, to the safest places. In addition, we also had prepared financial support to be given to the disaster-affected communities,” said Martins.
La Niña is a weather phenomenon characterized by unusually cold ocean temperature in the Equatorial Pacific which causes increased numbers of tropical storms in the Pacific Ocean.
Journalist: Hortencio Sanchez
Editor: Florencio Miranda Ximenes
Translation: Filomeno Martins
Editor: Nelia Borges Rosario
