By Belize Live News Staff: The Government of Belize, through the Ministry of Sustainable Development, Climate Change and Solid Waste Management, has successfully concluded the Flood Warning Capacity Improvement for the Belize River Basin (FWCIBRB) Project, a major initiative aimed at improving flood preparedness and community resilience.
The project, carried out in partnership with the Taiwan International Cooperation and Development Fund (Taiwan ICDF) and the National Taiwan University (NTU), focused on enhancing early warning systems across the Belize River Basin, expanding from San Ignacio to additional flood-prone communities.
As part of the project, flood alerts can now be issued up to three hours in advance, giving authorities and residents more time to respond. The initiative also provided technical training for local agencies, including the Department of the Environment (DOE), National Meteorological Service (NMS), National Hydrological Service (NHS), and National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO).
Activities under the project included resilience workshops in St. Paul’s and Willows Bank, a flood drill in Santa Familia, and community education programs to build awareness of disaster risk reduction.
At the closing ceremony in Belmopan, officials from both countries commended the project as a model of international cooperation, blending technology, education, and local participation to create a safer and more resilient Belize River Basin.
