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CABO VERDE - A National Disaster Observatory at the service of citizens
Natural and man-made disasters have caused significant impacts in various regions of the world, affecting communities, economies and the environment. Against this backdrop, the National Disaster Observatory has emerged as an essential tool for monitoring, investigating and managing risks, with the aim of reducing damage and increasing society's resilience in Cabo Verde.
On the 1st of March was International Civil Protection Day. To mark the date, the National Civil Protection and Firefighters’ Service (SNPCB) launched its website and the National Disaster Portal (OND) on the 27th of February in Tarrafal de Santiago.
The event was chaired by the Minister of Internal Administration, Mr. Paulo ROCHA, and hosted the President of the Civil Protection and Firefighters’ Service, Major Domingos TAVARES, the technicians from the same institution, Mr. Jeremias CABRAL and Mr. Hélio SEMEDO, and the Cooperation Officer from the Luxembourg Embassy in Cabo Verde, Mr. Jorge WAHNON.
"The new SNPCB and OND websites represent a qualitative leap in our ability to communicate and interact with the population. Through these digital platforms, we provide crucial information on disaster prevention, safety tips, alerts and warnings in a clear, accessible way and in real time. We believe that with these new tools we will be better prepared to face the challenges ahead, and that we can build a safer and more resilient Cabo Verde. However, technology alone is not enough. We need everyone's involvement and collaboration to build a culture of prevention and security in Cape Verde. We invite all citizens to explore our new websites, familiarise themselves with the information and tools available, and actively participate in promoting safety in their communities.
In a country as vulnerable to the effects of climate change as Cabo Verde, the role of civil protection and firefighters is even more crucial. We face severe droughts, floods, rural and forest fires and other extreme events that require a rapid and effective response. On the 1st of March, we celebrate the resilience, courage and spirit of service that define civil protection professionals and firefighters around the world. They are men and women who, with bravery and selflessness, face the challenges posed by natural disasters, accidents and other emergency situations", said Major Domingos TAVARES.
As stated during the closing of the event by the Minister of Internal Affairs, the observatory is "a crucial tool that compiles historical data on disasters that have occurred in the country since 1902, allowing civil society, the press and researchers to have access to evidence-based information for their activities”.
Paulo ROCHA also highlighted the importance of resilience and risk prevention in Cabo Verde, emphasising that this is a daily responsibility and although prevention is not always possible, risk mitigation is a constant task for Civil Protection. “The observatory also provides technical documents and reports that help professionals reduce risks, various types of disasters, such as maritime, forestry, fires, earthquakes and road accidents”, he said, emphasising that this creates an “important information base for preparing for and responding to emergency situations”.
The development of the SNPCB’s website and of the OND is a project that has been developed over the last year with the support of the Luxembourg Cooperation as part of the Climate action programme and which responds to a need to better portray the climatic and other events that occur in Cabo Verde and which are classified as disasters.
The Climate action programme is financed by the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and Cabo Verde, and implemented by LuxDev, the Luxembourg Development Cooperation Agency.
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