DHAKA, 31 January 2006 — Chairperson of seven-nation South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and Bangladesh Prime Minister Khaleda Zia yesterday sought international cooperation in facing havoc being wrought by tropical cyclones being formed in the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea.
Against the backdrop of recent pervasive natural calamity like cyclones, tsunami and earthquakes, Khaleda also sought global exchange of weather information for worldwide disaster mitigation as meteorological activities do not obey any political or geographical boundaries.
“Although it is not possible to prevent natural disasters, disaster mitigation is possible through accurate and timely forecasts and warnings, and adequate preparedness,” she observed while inaugurating 33rd session of WMO/ESCAP Panel on Tropical Cyclones for the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea in Dhaka.
Theme of this year’s session is “Early Warning Systems and Disaster Management of all Meteorological and Hydrological Hazards in the Panel Region.”
The theme was selected in recognition of the fact that the availability of a well-functioning early warning system that could deliver accurate and useful information in a timely and dependable manner to decision-makers and the population at risk is a fundamental condition for disaster preparedness.
The WMO-ESCAP Panel on Tropical Cyclones was formed in 1972 by joint initiative of World Meteorological Organization and Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific aiming to reduce damage caused due to tropical cyclones in the countries ashore of the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea.
Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Oman, the Maldives, Myanmar and Thailand are members of the anti-disaster forum.
The weeklong meet during its working sessions will have important discussions on professional training and research as well as formulate plan of action for next one year to face disaster.
Tokiyoshi Toya, WMO regional director for Asia and the South West Pacific, Defense Secretary Mesbahuddin Ahmed and Mohammed Akram Hossain, director of Bangladesh Meteorological department, also spoke on the occasion.
ESCAP director Ti Le Huu read out the message of Kim Hak-Su, UN under secretary general and executive secretary of ESCAP, ministers, representatives from WMO, ESCAP, other international organizations and panel countries, diplomats, and senior civil and military officials were present.
Khaleda said WMO/ESCAP Panel on Tropical Cyclones is a regional platform, promoting and coordinating such activities in the Panel area and, “We are already getting some benefit out of it”.
“We have to ensure proper application of latest technology with our conventional system for upgrading existing early warning and disaster mitigation arrangements,” she said.
