Work to improve Disaster Risk Management equipment begins in Vanuatu
The Vanuatu Meteorology and Geo-hazards Department (VMGD) under the Ministry of Climate Change and Natural Disasters has finally commenced work to the improvement of its disaster risk management equipment around the country early this year 2015 after it signed an aid grant agreement with a donor in April 23, 2012.
The Project for Improvement of Equipment for Disaster Risk Management is currently implemented by VMGD with funding from the Government of Japan through its commitment to contribute to the disaster prevention efforts around the world and the pacific region including Vanuatu.
In Vanuatu, the project hopes to assist the government through the services provided by VMGD to improve its daily observations and monitoring of the geological and meteorological hazards that can affect the lives of people in providing a more reliable, accurate and timely information and warnings in future.
The project is composed of four main components which made up of the equipment needed by the Department to improve its disaster risk management related services in the country. These include the Tide Observation System, Strong Motion Accelerometer and Broadband Station for earthquake detection system, Automatic Weather Station (AWS) and GTS Server and MSS. With these components, the equipment sets are already procured and they will arrive in Vanuatu in February 2015.
The Department of Meteorology and Geo-hazards had already identified different sites for each of the equipment funded under this project. The Tide Observation sites are Litzlitz in Malekula and Lamen bay in Epi Island. The strong motion accelerometers system each with broad band seismic stations will be stationed at Lakatoro in Malekula, Isangel in Tanna and in Port Vila at the VMGD Head office. The Automatic Weather Stations (AWS) will be installed at Pekoa airport in Santo, Bauerfield airport in Efate and at the White Grass airport in Tanna. Lastly, the installation of the Global Telecommunication System (GTS) and data management software systems in the VMGD Head office in Port Vila.
With these already identified sites, the works of this project will mainly including site survey, testing, design, temporary works, and equipment manufacturing have already been completed. The works are now started with the preparation of the installation sites. The installation of the equipment should start in March 2015 followed by the equipment operational training.
According to its implementation plan, all installation works be completed by end of April 2015.
