publication • Wednesday, December 14th 2016
Learning from Experience
A summarised review of early warning systems
During the Horn of Africa famine in 2011 the international community failed to prepare and respond early enough to prevent massive suffering. This underscores the need for timely information and the need for appropriate action that could save lives and livelihoods before a crisis.
The more recent El Niño effected 60 million people globally. Yet this number might have been greatly reduced had the international community again acted earlier. With the increased frequency of climate-related disasters, there is a continuing need to improve early warning systems so that they help people act earlier and the affect that these disasters have on children and their families is reduced.
World Vision and the International Research Institute for Climate & Society have reviewed a number of early warning systems and recommended ways that aid agencies, donors, media and governments can improve these systems in order to catalyse action and thus avoid the worst effects of climate disasters.
