By: Sulayman Waan
The National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) on Wednesday launched India- UNESCO Development Partnership Fund Project aim at alleviating poverty through climate change mitigation; held at Senegambia Beach Hotel.
The NDMA project titled ‘Using Drones and Early Warning System for Pre- and Post- Floods Disaster Management in the Gambia also mean to sensitize and build the capacity of the NDMA staff as well as the public to ensure disaster is curb.
In her launching statement, Dr. Isatou Touray, Vice President of the Gambia described the projects’ as instrumental in curbing disaster in the country, saying the project’s plans signify its aim to develop the capacity and readiness of the country in deploying drones to undertake disaster and climate risk assessment and expect rapid identification of damage to the physical environment and of endangered individuals to post- disaster situation.
“Agriculture is the main source of livelihood for majority Gambians. The constant floods affect the livelihoods of more than 70% of the population anytime it occurs.”
However, VP revealed that the Gambia faced limited financial and material resources to address these problems before and after occurrence of disaster, adding this project is significant in contributing to disaster preparedness through an effective early warning system.
According to her, since 2015, the Gambia has been encountering a number of hazards affecting lives and livelihoods, but flooding (riverine flooding included) has been one of the major threats to the country with a significant increase of victims.
Quoting from the Inter-Government Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) list she said the Gambia is among the hundreds critical countries most vulnerable to climate change and particularly susceptible to weather related hazards.
She assured her office with partners will create enabling environment for NDMA to ensure the project is implemented and sustain.
Representing UN System resident coordinator, MS Sandra Lattouf said: “In 2018, over 41,000 people were affected by natural hazards, mostly in the form of floods in the Gambia. This figure stems because many are currently living in areas prone to flooding and there is limited capacity to manage flood.”
“With funding from the India- UN Development Partnership Fund, UNESCO is supporting government to implement the project so that the country is better equip to predict, measure and manage the impact of natural disaster,” she said.
Sanna Bairo Dahaba, executive director of NDMA said: “The project is essential in addressing vulnerability since it enhances climate information service that enables preparations and responds to disaster. “NDMA and partners are challenge with early morning system for the past years and this increases the number of disaster victims in the country,” he said.
He added: “This project will help the country in achieving its targets in the NDP and the sustainable development goal. In addition it would enhance the establishment of early morning system as well as enhance the reporting target G of the Sendai framework for disaster risk reduction 2015-2030.”
Mr. Dimitri Sanga, UNESCO Director the office of West Africa said the Gambia has experienced disaster over the past years including flooding that led to the loss of lives and properties worth hundreds of thousands dollars for several years.
“In 2018 the UN System estimated that over 400,000 people were affected out that about 43,000 people were severally affected in the Gambia,” he said while said this would use technologically and human knowledge to ensure disaster risk reduction.