By: Sulayman Waan
Sanna Dahaba, executive director for the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) has said that ‘Early Warning’ is essential in addressing vulnerability because it enhances climate information services, which enables preparedness and response to disasters.
Mr. Dahaba made this remark during the opening of three day training to high government official on evidence-informed decision making on environmental disasters opens on 10th September, 2019 at Tenda Camp.
The activity is funded through the India-UN Development Partnership Fund with the project name “Using Drones and Early Warning Systems for Pre- and Post-Floods Disaster Management in The Gambia”
This training aims to raise awareness of decision makers on Early Warning particularly on flood management; to help decision makers on making decisions on environmental disasters; and to streamline environmental disasters in the national development plans for informed decisions.
He added that the specific objectives of the training are to strengthen the capacity of individuals and their institutions to access, evaluate and effectively apply scientific knowledge generated by research to identify relevant policy options and provide more informed policy advice; to raise the awareness and motivation of individuals and institutions for evidence-based decision-making; as well as to encourage the sustainability of the use of science in public policy.
Dahaba unveiled that NDMA and partners are challenged with early warning systems for the past years, adding this has increased the number of affected population in the country, with little or no effective preparedness plan in place.
“The project will help the country in achieving its targets in the DNP, SDG, as well as enhance the establishment of a functional early warning system and reporting Target G of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030,” he said.
