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| Meteo Rwanda staff with journalists as they are touring its infrastructure |
30 October 2015
Over 40 journalists from across Rwanda have toured the Rwanda Meteorology Agency headquarters where they were briefed on the work of the institution as well as the role of the media in reducing disasters related to weather and climate.
Over 40 journalists from across Rwanda have toured the Rwanda Meteorology Agency headquarters where they were briefed on the work of the institution as well as the role of the media in reducing disasters related to weather and climate.
The showcase
and media briefing was organised to help journalists understand the services
and products offered by Meteo Rwanda.
In his opening
remarks, John Ntaganda Semafara, Acting Director General of Rwanda Meteorology
Agency, requested journalists to prioritise weather forecasting and climate
news in their daily reporting.
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| John Ntaganda Semafara, Acting Director General of Meteo Rwanda |
He said that
forecasting is a vital part of the development of the nation, and that people
in Rwanda should have easy access to weather information. This, he said, would
help to reduce the loss of life and property due to natural disasters.
“You are the
ones who are able to help a large number of Rwandans access weather forecasting
information through your daily publications and news outlets,” he said.
The journalists
toured Meteo Rwanda facilities including the modernised databank system for meteorological
data collection, quality control and different applications that are used by
Meteo Rwanda to deliver accurate weather forecasting.
As part of the
tour, the media was also shown how Meteo Rwanda uses radar information and satellite
images as a member of World Meteorological organisation.
The journalists raised a questions including why they sometimes experience weather that is different from the forecast of Meteo Rwanda and challenges that the institution faces.
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| A map of Rwanda's lightning detection system |
The journalists raised a questions including why they sometimes experience weather that is different from the forecast of Meteo Rwanda and challenges that the institution faces.
Twahirwa
Anthony, Head of the Climate, Weather and Application Division, said that while
they might like to, they cannot control the weather. He said there might be
some difference in the actual weather due to global climate changes and other natural extreme
events.
The media was
also briefed on some of the challenges faced by Meteo Rwanda including limited
capacity to offer effective meteorological services to all other sectors. In
some cases, weather forecasts and warnings of extreme weather events do not
reach all those who need the information, especially in rural areas, due to the
absence of outreach through established media channels.
Those who
attended committed to learn more about the importance of weather and climate
forecasting and to find new ways to share forecasts with their audiences.
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