Seychelles Disaster Risk and Management Preparing for Tsunami Ready

The UNESCO-IOC Indian Ocean Tsunami Information Centre (IOTIC) conducted National Tsunami Ready Training in Seychelles during 21-24 November 2023. The training workshop reviewed the UNESCO-IOC Tsunami Ready Recognition Programme with a view for adoption and implementation in Seychelles. Forty representatives from both national and local governmental organisations participated in the training.

The Seychelles Disaster Risk and Management Division (DRMD) hosted the event at the Seychelles Trading Company (STC) in Victoria, Mahe Island. UNESCO-IOC and the Government of Indonesia funded the training, through the Partnership Agreement between UNESCO-IOC and the Agency for Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics (BMKG; 2023-2027).

Participants at Seychelles Tsunami Ready Training, Victoria, Mahe,21-24 November 2023.

The workshop was officially opened by the Minister for Local Government and Community Affairs, Minister Rose Marie Hoareau, following the welcome remarks of Prof Dwikorita Karnawati, Chair of the Intergovernmental Coordination Group for Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System (ICG/IOTWMS) and Head of BMKG, and Dr Alexandros K Makarigakis, the Director of UNESCO Office Nairobi.

The training was led by IOTIC in contribution to UNESCO-IOC’s effort to ensure a safe ocean for ever-more resilient coastal communities, with specific objectives: 1. To introduce and promote the UNESCO-IOC Tsunami Ready Recognition Programme (TRRP) and 2. To initiate the implementation of the TRRP in Seychelles.

The training included practical activities to review the present state of the community tsunami awareness and preparedness in 27 districts of Seychelles, the capacity for implementation of the Tsunami Ready indicators in each community, and the capacity for key stakeholders to implement the indicators. The participants suggested to start to implement Tsunami Ready in the Anse Royale District that was heavily affected by the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.

The possibility and best approach for establishment of a National Tsunami Ready Board (NTRB) in Seychelles was discussed. The participants proposed to incorporate the function and role of NTRB within the existing Disaster Coordination Committee of Seychelles.

Participants playing the Tsunami Ready boardgame as part of the training activity, Seychelles Tsunami Ready Training, Victoria, Mahe, 21-24 November 2023.

The last day of the training was visit to the Seychelles Meteorology Agency as the National Tsunami Warning Centre and field visit. With the support of the UNDRR Nairobi Office, the field visit started with a motorcade of World Tsunami Awareness Day from the northside of Mahe Island travelling to the south and ending at the Seychelles University in Anse Royale.