‘Early Warning System, a key to surviving natural disasters’ - Dr Neville Sweijd

From Cape Coast to Cairo, Moscow to Malabu, the year 2012 will go down in history as one of those years that the world saw a glimpse of nature's fury. It is a year filled with large scale natural disasters than any year in the new millennium. Most devastating are flash flood incidents that caught many unaware leading to hundreds of dead.
Presently, three people are on trial in Russia for failing to trigger early warning system during a similar incident (flood) that claimed many lives.

What faith then await countries, especially in Africa and Asia, without early warning systems? In this short but straight to point presentation, Don Abiodun Odedeyi presents to you, excerpt of Doctor Nevile Sweijd's presentation at the 4th Lagos Climate Change Summit in Lagos, Nigeria..

"Most of climate change effects such as flood, heat wave, and bush fire have common areas and season of occurrence. What needs to be done', he said, 'is to put in place projects that will combat this challenges. In South Africa, drainages are build in flood prone areas while residents are move to safer locations prior to the beginning of raining season.

"A major challenge in the fight against climate change is poverty, look at the situation in some parts of Makoko and Ajegunle here in Lagos where dirts and wastes reign. Such place gives room to common natural causes to become a national disaster.

"Government should be more proactive in the area of environmental management, identifying of harms way, shifting of baselines among others."

In his closing remarks, Dr. Neville emphasis on the need to build early warning systems along national coastal areas, Sahel regions as well as areas known to be prone to climate change effects.

"Makeshift accommodations will not be out of place, we have similar projects in South Africa. In the case of impending disaster, people living in affected areas are evacuated. They return to their homes when the authority are sure things are safe."

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Dr Neville Sweijd (Phd) has worked at the University of the Western Cape and the International Ocean Institute.

He was a one of the speakers at the 4th Lagos Climate Change Conference, (April 2012). You can reach him via E-mail:

nsweijd@access.ac.za- Don

Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless handheld from Glo Mobile.