World Bank allocated additional funding for the creation of adequate hydrometeorology system in Central Asia
The World Bank decided to allocate additional financing to the Central Asia Hydrometeorology Modernization Project. On Wednesday, the WB Board of Executive Directors approved a three-year funding package worth of US $11.5 million for project that aims at improving the accuracy and timeliness of hydrometeorological services in Central Asia, especially in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. These two countries in the region are highly exposed to future risks of climate change and weather disasters such as floods, landslides, mudflows, frost, droughts, strong winds and avalanches. And these risks are exacerbated by limited capacity to respond to frequent weather shocks. Consequently, the improvement of hydrometeorological forecasting services through additional funding of the World Bank will support national actions to protect the population from the consequences of natural disasters. - Weather hazards are responsible for 90% of total disaster losses worldwide, and pose a particular threat to local communities across Central Asia, said Lilia Burunciuc, World Bank Country Director for Central Asia. Faster and more accurate weather information can save lives and help many industries, from agriculture to transport, to anticipate weather-related shocks and take timely action, she added, underscoring that World Bank is working closely with countries in Central Asia to improve weather and climate information for resilience. World Bank already invested US$ 28 million into the Central Asia Hydrometeorology Modernization Project. These funds were spent for into the modernization of monitoring networks, improvement of forecasting tools, and establishment of a regional information exchange system. The project helped to rehabilitate 33 weather stations and 3 river stations in the Kyrgyz Republic, and 54 weather stations and 16 river stations in Tajikistan. Better access to critical meteorological data will bring significant benefits to the region through climate-sustainable planning in key economic sectors such as agriculture, food security, transport, water resources, energy and health.
