The EU Acknowledges Good Results of Cuba's Early Warning System

SANCTI SPIRITUS, Cuba, Jun 2 (acn) The actions carried out by Cuba for the Strengthening of the Hydro-meteorological Early Warning System (Forsat), a project implemented in the provinces of Sancti Spiritus and Villa Clara, were acknowledged on Thursday in this city by the European Union.

Virginie Andre, coordinator for the Caribbean of the Department for Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection of the European Commission, one of the international sponsors of the initiative, told reporters that thanks to the country's commitment to reduce disaster risk, the implementation of program has been a success so far.
She commented that among interests is the strengthening of the surveillance system of institutions in Sancti Spiritus and Villa Clara, in order to achieve accurate predictions of the behavior of rains and alluvia.
In a meeting in the province of Sancti Spiritus with agencies involved in this project, Andre reiterated that assessment of risk for decision-making by governments and local authorities as well as community preparedness in the face of possible floods are also boosted.
She also pointed out the importance of studies of hazard, vulnerability and risk carried out in the nation, research works that make the implementation of Forsat more solid.
Myrta Kaulard, resident representative of the United Nations Development Program, an organization that is also involved in the initiative, said that there is a close community-government relationship on the island, ensuring the effectiveness of the activities carried out by the hydro-meteorological early warning system.