‘Investment in early warning and early action key to making Seychelles safer and more disaster resilient’

“The International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction is an annual opportunity to take stock of the progress being made worldwide toward preventing and reducing disaster risk and losses in lives, livelihoods, economies and basic infrastructure in line with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (2015-2030).

“This year’s edition takes place during the Mid-Term Review of the Sendai Framework. Seychelles, through the Disaster Risk Management Division (DRMD), is participating in the process. After consultation with stakeholders from various sectors nationally, the DRMD has produced and submitted a report which will go to the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR).

“‘Early warning and early action’ is the theme that has been chosen by the UNDRR for 2022.

“To be effective, early warning systems must cover multiple hazards, including cyclones, storms, floods and tsunamis, but also to warn against wildfires, droughts, disease outbreaks, technological accidents, pest infestations and others.

“The recent Providence landfill fire has highlighted once again the necessity to have early warning measures in place that will inform early action and avoid escalation of not just hydro-meteorological hazards, which are more common in Seychelles, but also technological hazards, such as industrial fires.

“The high cost of required resources borne by tax payers, loss of private revenue caused by business closures, reduced face-to-face learning time for students and the health consequences through respiratory issues, during the few days of the fire, are evidence enough that early action is crucial.

“According to the UNDRR, early warning by just 24 hours can cut the ensuing damage by 30 per cent. This encouraging valuation is in stark contrast to the very real figure of a third of the world’s people, mainly in the least developed countries and small island developing states, still not covered by early warning systems. It is for this reason that the UNDRR is calling on the enhancement of international support to Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and small island developing states (Sids) to build and expand their early warning systems.

“The UNDRR estimates that investing US $800 million in early warning systems in developing countries would avoid losses of $3-16 billion per year. The UNDRR affirms that at-risk communities must be made aware of the true risks they face, how their early warning system functions, and be ready to act on its warnings.

“Seychelles makes investments in early warning mainly through the national budget. However, funding is also sourced from other international partners such as the World Bank, the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery, the United Nations Development Programme and others. The country has benefitted from funding by our international partners in the past, and the government is working to develop and expand such partnerships.

“Using words inspired by a statement made recently by the President of the Republic, we can no longer afford to keep believing that we are a blessed nation and that we will remain untouched by major disasters. The efforts being made to make Seychelles a safer, more disaster resilient country, needs to be supported by all.

“As Government, we will continue maximising our efforts on prevention and preparedness. I take this opportunity to thank those in the private sector who have preparedness measures in place, and urge those yet to address this issue to do so.

“I wish to thank all the emergency response agencies, the National Disaster Risk Management Committee, the Vulnerability Assessment Committee and all the hard-working men and women who have dedicated their careers to disaster risk reduction, and I wish each of you a wonderful day.”

Source: Seychelles Nation