As climate change brings more frequent floods, landslides and other disasters to Bhutan, protecting lives and communities has become more important than ever. The President of JICA, during a lecture yesterday, said the Japan International Cooperation Agency will continue supporting Bhutan through projects that strengthen disaster preparedness and climate resilience.
Speaking at a lecture to mark the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Bhutan and Japan, the JICA President said strengthening resilience against disasters such as outburst floods and landslides, among others, is essential to ensuring sustainable development and protecting communities.
“In Bhutan, climate change and youth unemployment are both big challenges. JICA is in contact with the government of Bhutan to make efforts to alleviate the danger in both areas,” said Akihiko Tanaka (PhD), President, JICA.
To help Bhutan mitigate these challenges, the JICA President highlighted several initiatives being implemented with the government. Among them is the Capacity Enhancement of Meteorological Observation, Forecasting and Flood Warning Project for the Paro and Thimphu river basins, which aims to improve weather monitoring, forecasting accuracy, and early warning systems to reduce disaster risks.
“I think to reduce disaster, you need to have a very good early warning system. Utilisation of data from satellites is quite important in this area, and we would like to collaborate with the government to make effective early warning systems,” added the President.
He also added that JICA will continue investing in resilient infrastructure, including the construction and replacement of bridges to improve connectivity and withstand disasters.
Sangay Chozom
Edited by Sonam Pem
