Regional Working Group for the North-West Indian Ocean

Chair: Dr Mohammad Mokhtari (Iran) 

Vice-Chair: Ms V Sunanda Manneela (India)

Meeting Reports of the Regional Working Group for the North-West Indian Ocean are available for download here.

Terms-of-Reference 

Liaise with other working group(s) and task team(s) within the ICG/IOTWMS and with working groups from the other ocean basins through the TOWS-WG to:

1. In collaboration with IOC-UNESCO IOTIC and IOC-UNESCO Secretariat for the ICG/IOTWMS, evaluate capabilities and identify capacity building requirements of Member States in the region for providing end-to-end tsunami warning and mitigation services within the framework of the ICG/IOTWMS and within a multi-hazard framework.

2. In collaboration Working Group 1 "Tsunami Risk, Community Awareness and Preparedness", promote and facilitate tsunami hazard and risk assessments and research in the region, including for tsunamis generated by non-seismic and complex sources.

3. In collaboration with Working Group 3 “Tsunami Ready Implementation”, support implementation of IOC-UNESCO TRRP or similar activities across the region to help make at-risk communities resilient and prepared for tsunamis.

4. In collaboration with Working Group 3 “Tsunami Ready Implementation”, facilitate sharing of experiences between Member State Tsunami Ready Focal Points (TRFPs) on Tsunami Ready implementation.

5. Facilitate cooperation in the establishment and upgrading of seismic, sea level and GNSS stations and networks and communication systems in the region.

6. Facilitate the timely sharing of tsunami-related data and information in the region.

7. To facilitate capacity building and the sharing of tsunami-related data and information in the region.

8. Support the implementation of IOWAVE Exercises and other similar drills across the region and encourage all Member States to participate at full level (from issuing warnings to the evacuation of the public in selected regions, at least in tsunami-ready pilot regions).

The Group will be composed of members representing NTWC and Tsunami Ready Focal Point from each of the Member States of India, Iran, Oman, Pakistan, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen in the North-West Indian Ocean region and invited observers, with a chairperson and vice-chairperson to be elected.

Members

Dr. Dipankar Saikia (India)

Ms Noura Al Kaabi (Oman)

Mr Khalifa Al-Sudairi (Oman)

Mr Ameer Hyder (Pakistan)

Mr Tariq Ibrahim (Pakistan)

Major Muhammad Amjad Iqbal (Pakistan; tbc)

UAE representatives (tbc)

Yemen representatives (tbc)