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Disaster agencies told to build up damage-claim capabilities
View(s):Institutional capabilities of public institutions should be strengthened with more staff to prepare compensation claims for Sri Lankans badly affected by the human-induced climate disasters such as the recent floods and inclement extreme weather which are predicted to be more frequent in future.
According to lead government delegate Leel Randeni for the Bonn climate meetings that ended last Thursday, to claim compensation for climate related disasters from international agencies, public departments such as the Disaster Management Centre, disaster management relief centre, district and divisional secretariats, and other public institutions should be equipped with technology and human resources, to make applications claiming damages on behalf of people who are affected as required by the international agencies.
“These applications should be prepared under strict criterion laid down by these agencies, therefore, capacity building of human resources too, should be done to achieve this,” he said.
The climate meetings in Bonn were a preparation for the UN Climate Summit in Baku, in Azerbaijan in November.
According to climate change head Anusha Warnasooriya of the Department of Meteorology, above-average monsoon rainfall has been predicted for the South and Western parts. “These parts of the country receive more rain in this monsoon season,” she said. According to the Indian Met department, India too, would have above-average rainfall from June to September.
Apart from the dearth of human resources and capacity building, the collection of relevant loss and damage data should be streamlined to seek compensation from international agencies, Mr. Randeni said.
The Global Shield Against Climate Risk, a World Bank affiliated financial facility, has selected countries that are most vulnerable to climate risks including Pakistan and Bangladesh.
“I went to an interview with Global Shield facility but they said they will consider Sri Lanka in the next round.’’
It had selected five African countries this year as they are more vulnerable than Sri Lanka to human- induced climate disaster, Mr. Randeni said.
Climate related disasters are becoming more frequent, while the economic and social cost and deaths have increased.
“We are being victimised for a global problem and need to reach out for international organisations for compensation for our loss and damages,” he said.
Defence State Minister Pramitha Bandara Thennakoon, who is responsible for disaster management, said 26 people have died in the flooding and members of each family would receive a Rs. 250,000 compensation. All totally destroyed houses will be rebuilt and households affected by the recent floods would be given Rs. 10,000, he said.
“Time has come for us to look for something solid, not the patch work,” for the longer term, Mr. Randeni said.
Damaged or destroyed houses and buildings had been built along the reservations beside rivers and streams without approvals and local councils overlooked these, he alleged.
“Remedy is easier than done,” he said, adding that pushing local authorities to implement regulations is the solution.
| June 1 downpour lasted for nearly four hours One June 1, the downpour lasted for nearly four hours, dumping 100mm of rain, said Department of Meteorology, Director of Forecasting Ajith Wijemanna. According to him, this extreme event would only be second to the record 780mm of rainfall received during 24 hours in Deniyaya area in 2003. Although the department started recording the rainfall intensity in 2009, a trend of more frequent rainfall of higher intensities has been observed. He calls this a “climate extremity,” which could have been induced by human activity. | |
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