Mapping for El Niño 2023 Anticipatory Action Workshop
On September 5th and 6th, the Institute of Climate and Environment hosted a comprehensive two-day workshop, focusing on the “Mapping for El Niño 2023 Anticipatory Action”. The session was led by Liban Hassan and Abdullahi Kelly.
The event was a resounding success, with 49 participants, including students specializing in fields like engineering, computing, social science, and management, and professionals, who came together to learn from and contribute to this vital workshop.
The workshop was underscored by the gravity of the El Niño phenomenon. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) had forecasted in May 2023 an 80% likelihood of El Niño conditions between July and September. After seven years, the tropical Pacific has once again shown signs of El Niño conditions, heralding potential disruptions in global weather patterns. There’s a daunting 90% probability that this El Niño will persist through the latter half of 2023.
Why is this significant, especially for regions like Somalia? El Niño often brings with it extremes in weather, from scorching heatwaves to intense rainfall, particularly affecting areas like the Horn of Africa. For Somalia, where the impacts of climate change can drastically amplify the effects of events like El Niño, early warning systems are crucial.
During the workshop, participants were tasked with a mapping campaign to compile datasets on OpenStreetMap. This data will be instrumental in preparing for any destruction El Niño might bring. Specifically, the mapping concentrated on the vulnerabilities of community assets such as buildings, roads, infrastructure, farms, etc. This mapped data is invaluable; for instance, FAO teams will use it to develop an early warning system to alert communities about potential flooding risks. Furthermore, this data will assist humanitarian responders in their life-saving efforts during flood events in Somalia.
Beyond the hands-on mapping, the workshop was a clarion call against the looming challenges of climate change. Guided by our expert facilitators, the attendees were not only equipped with technical skills but also inspired to be stewards of the environment.
As the two days concluded, the workshop had successfully empowered 49 newly minted Campaign Mappers, each now ready to face the challenges posed by our shifting climate.
