by Tusi Tala, Staff Writer
The Vanuatu Meteorology and Geohazards Department (VMGD) and the Vanuatu Klaemet Infomesen blong Redi, Adapt & Protekt (VanKIRAP) have created six new provincial community climate centers, with plans for three additional locations.
These centers will obtain crucial weather data from the VMGD, which will then be translated into local dialects for distribution to remote provincial communities.
Wiliam Bae Worworkon, the VMGD’s training and outreach officer, spoke with RNZ Pacific, highlighting that current forecasts can be overly technical and confusing for people in remote areas who speak specific dialects. The community climate centers will ensure these communities receive vital information presented in a way they can understand.
Vanuatu, with a population of under 300,000, is noted for its linguistic diversity, housing 138 indigenous languages, the highest density per capita globally. Among its three official languages, Bislama is the most commonly spoken, followed by English and French.
In the Ranwadi area of South Pentecost, Cyclone Lola caused significant damage, destroying two staff houses and rendering five classrooms unusable, although there were no casualties reported at Ranwadi College.
Worworkon emphasized the importance of this initiative, noting that Vanuatu is experiencing more frequent extreme weather events. Communities are eager for accurate weather updates in accessible formats.
He mentioned that the response from communities in establishing the centers has been encouraging. His role involves facilitating training to help local communities comprehend this information and communicate it back in their own languages.
Additionally, Worworkon explained that the centers will not only serve as a conduit for VMGD information but will also encourage communities to provide feedback, which can be included in the VMGD’s monthly briefings. This will help the VMGD better address the needs of the communities.
The established community climate centers include:
- Torba Provincial Council
- Sanma
- Luganinville
- South Santo Area Council
- Provincial Council of Penama
- Malapma Provincial Council
- Tafea Provincial Council in Tanna
The three planned centers will be located in Penama Province, Northern Pentecost, North Ambrym (for Malapma Province), and North Erromango.