Lack of Resources Impede Duty of Meteorological Department
The Acting Director, Meteorological Department, Ibrahim S. Kamara has told media practitioners that lack of equipment and human resource is serving as an impediment to carry out their functions as required. (Photo: Acting Director, Meteorological Department, Ibrahim S. Kamara)
Kamara was responding to an interview at Miata Conference Centre after making a brilliant presentation at the 2018 Fiscal Year budget discussion on Friday 18th August 2017.
According to Kamara who took over office in January this year, their ability to perform their duties will continue to be limited without certain tools which he said is very expensive.
He said as a department, they needed climate forecast model to be able to predict flooding and other natural disaster because he advanced that the weather has becomes erratic.
The Director explained plan to train Journalists on climate and weather reporting to cautioned the public on their responsibility to live in a safe environment and mentioned that their plan in 2018 is to work with stakeholders like Civil Society Organization, Environment Protection Agency (EPA), Ministry of Agriculture Forestry and Food Security (MAFFS) and other lined bodies.
He called on Government and NGOS to render help so that the country’s Meteorological Department will be furnished with materials that will help to tell the intensity and where flooding is about to occur.
He appealed to Sierra Leoneans not to blame the responsible department because they are not in control of natural disaster but are just monitoring situation.
He described the Regent and Mount Sugar Loaf mudslide as Geological problem which he said cannot only happened during heavy down pour but can occurred in the dry season as well.
Speaking on their mission statement, The Acting Director said the Meteorological Department provides weather, hydrologic, climate forecasts and warnings for Sierra Leone, it territories, adjacent waters and ocean areas, for the protection of life and properties and the enhancement of the national economy. He pointed out that the Meteorological department data and products formed a national information database and infrastructure which can be used by other Governmental agencies, the private sector, the public and the global community.
He explained that their objectives are not only to provide cost effective weather and climate services or provide the necessary infrastructure, equipment and logistics for the enhancement of the work but they also gives quality, acceptable and timely weather, climate and climate change services to end users and encourage strong collaboration with stakeholders.
By Abdulai Mento Kamara
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