Govt working to develop early warning system to avoid loss of lives: Environment Adviser
During the workshop, the adviser urged all stakeholders to actively contribute towards developing an effective hydrological status and outlook system
Environment, Forest and Climate Change Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan has said that the government is working to develop understandable early warning system to avoid loss of lives and livelihood during natural calamities.
The adviser made the remark while speaking as chief guest at a stakeholders' consultation workshop titled "Early Warning for All through Hydrological Status and Outlook System" held at Pan Pacific Sonargaon, Dhaka recently.
During the workshop, the adviser urged all stakeholders to actively contribute towards developing an effective hydrological status and outlook system.
She also emphasised that the lives and livelihoods of vulnerable communities are at constant risk due to climate hazards, making it essential to have an efficient early warning system.
Speaking as the chief guest, she stressed that early warnings are a vital part of building resilience. A robust hydrological system, she noted, would allow for better forecasting of potential disasters, enabling proactive measures to protect lives, property, and natural resources.
Rizwana also said that real time information of upper riparian countries is highly required in this regard, highlighting the need for collaboration between government agencies, scientific communities, and local stakeholders to develop an inclusive system that serves all, particularly the most vulnerable.
During the event, she called for a unified approach in implementing an early warning system that is both accessible and effective at local and national levels.
Defence Secretary Md Ashraf Uddin presided over the workshop. Disaster Management and Relief Secretary Kamrul Hasan, senior officials from various ministries representatives from government agencies, NGOs, and international partners participated in the event, discussing the challenges and opportunities of building a robust early warning mechanism for hydrological hazards.
Earlier, Rizwana inaugurated the training on the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Policy on Programming and Operations held at Gazipur via online platforms.