MOGADISHU, June 2 (Xinhua) -- Somalia, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Green Climate Fund (GCF), on Tuesday launched the Multi-Hazard Early Warning System under the global Early Warnings for All framework.
Lionel Laurens, the UNDP resident representative in Somalia, said the project addresses Somalia's urgent need for stronger disaster preparedness, improved warning dissemination, and proactive measures to reduce the impact of recurrent droughts, floods, and climate hazards nationwide.
By 2030, the initiative aims to cut disaster fatalities by 42 percent and expand early warning coverage from 20 percent to full national coverage, the UNDP said.
The Somalia Disaster Management Agency will lead the nationwide project alongside ministries and state authorities.
The UNDP will manage operations as the implementing partner using the Direct Implementation Modality, utilizing a 12.7-million-U.S.-dollar GCF grant alongside partner co-financing.
According to the UNDP, the initiative will directly benefit 1.2 million people through improved access to early warnings, while indirectly protecting eight million people through enhanced disaster risk reduction systems.
The program, which specifically targets vulnerable groups, including women, youth, internally displaced persons, and rural communities, will build a robust governance framework with clear institutional roles, legal systems for disaster management, and emergency telecommunications. ■