Within the western part of the Indian Ocean lies the Seychelles archipelago comprising 115 islands with a total land area of 455.3 km², scattered across an Exclusive Economy Zone (EEZ) covering an area of 1.374 million km².
There is slight seasonal variation with mean temperatures of 26.90 ºC, and average humidity of 80%. October to May is considered cyclone season for the southwest Indian Ocean.
Due to its geographical position and geology, the Seychelles is less exposed to major natural disasters than most of its neighbours such as Mauritius, Comoros, Madagascar or the countries on the African mainland. However, there is growing concern that the increasing frequency and severity of disasters, particularly at a time when global experts are ever more linking the current trend of greater severity and occurrence of specific disasters to the rise in global mean temperatures, and associated changes in precipitation and wind velocities. These appear to be influencing the occurrence of storms, drought and landslides in the Indian Ocean. The increased frequency and intensity of storm events, which may result from climate change, will have profound effects on both the economy and environment of the Seychelles due to its high dependence on tourism.
Of particular concern are forest fires, floods, landslides, oil and chemical spills as major potential disasters or threats in Seychelles will have severe environmental consequences, predominantly on the endemic and small species populations of fauna and flora and the economy of the country.
Following the tropical storm in 2002 that hit Praslin, the second largest island, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) sent recommendations to the government of Seychelles for a comprehensive disaster management strategy. Based on the findings of this report, a National Risk and Disaster Management Secretariat (NRDMS) was created in October 2004 to provide permanent assistance to the National Disaster Committee (NDC).
Currently, under the administration of the Ministry of Environment and Energy, the Division of Risk and Disaster Management (DRDM) is assigned the responsibility of identifying the risks facing the population, setting up disaster response systems, developing community awareness and sensitising the public on disaster risk management.
One of the main responsibilities of the DRDM is to turn available human knowledge into tailored and informed action to reduce the risk of hazards.
The Spirit of a Country
Disaster Risk Management – a matter of teamwork
Under the administration of the Ministry of Environment and Energy, the Division of Risk and Disaster Management (DRDM) of Seychelles is assigned the responsibility of identifying the risks facing the population, setting up and co-ordinating disaster response systems, developing community awareness and sensitising the public on disaster risk management.
DRDM and its partners’ capacities and corporative collaboration were severely tested when tropical cyclone Felleng passed near the Seychelles islands on Sunday, 27 January 2013 bringing in its wake heavy rains, and combined with the high tide, caused devastation to coastline areas and widespread structural damages to infrastructure. The government responded rapidly to both the threat and the results of the heavy rains and declared the three hardest-hit districts on the southeast coast of Mahé (Au Cap, Pointe Larue and Cascade) disaster zones; opened the Emergency Operations Centre; and mobilised emergency first responders. Relief efforts were well executed, with displaced individuals housed swiftly and key infrastructure such as major drains and roads on Mahé and La Digue pumped and cleared within days of the floods.
Some soldiers of the Seychelles People’s Defense Force (SPDF) breaking through a wall to allow the inundated water to flow through at Anse Aux Pins district, whilst Director-General of the Climate Adaptation and Information Division A. De Comarmond looks on
The January disaster took place during the normal rainy season but the records show that rainfall for January 2013 hit a historical high, with a total amount of 871 mm – twice as much as the monthly average of 400 mm. The three consecutive days during the tropical depression Felleng, had the highest rainfall ever recorded – a significant 330 mm.
HE President James Michel is being briefed by the Minister of Environment and Energy Prof. Rolph Payet in the National Emergency Operating Centre, DRDM (27/01/13)
Flash flooding, landslides and falling trees and boulders have inundated houses, blocked roads and caused significant losses and damages to property and other infrastructure amounting to approximately US$9 million. Statistically, 400 households were affected, 17 farms and two police stations were destroyed. In total, 78 people were displaced. In addition to the declared ‘disaster zones’ other districts of Mahe island, Praslin and La Digue island were also affected.
Anse Aux Pins District, Mahe after tropical cyclone Felleng
Partners
■ Red Cross Society of Seychelles
■ Seychelles Fire and Rescue Service Agency
■ Seychelles People’s Defense Forces including the Coast Guard
■ Seychelles Land Transport Agency
■ Ministry of Health
■ Police
■ Public Utilities Corporation
■ Ministry of Social Affairs, Sports and Community Development
■ Ministry of Land Use and Habitat
■ Other departments/agencies of the ministry of Environment such as Climate Affairs, Adaptation and Information Division (CAAID), Seychelles National Park, Forestry Department and Land Waste Management Agency
Some officers of the Ministry of Land Use and Habitat (MLUH) assessing a case
These partners and many others responded commendably to save lives, to alleviate damages, to evacuate and to provide shelter and nutrition.
Transferring a water pump in the Topaz vessel to transport to La Digue island from Mahé in collaboration with the Seychelles People’s Defence Forces: Coast Guard and the Seychelles Fire and Rescue Services Agency
Disaster recovery
President James Michel convened an extraordinary cabinet meeting to review the situation on the ground and set up the Flood Task Force that DRDM collaborated with to plan an efficient and effective response. The National Disaster Relief Fund was also established to raise local and international financial assistance for the families who were left homeless during the floods and for repairs to homes and the surrounding infrastructure.
Vice-President Mr Danny Faure with the Member of Parliament for La Digue island; Ms Chantal Ghislain, the District Administrator and her assistant, the Principle Secretary for the Ministry of Social Affairs and Community Development, the Emergency Doctor in Charge Dr Henriette, and the hard-working members of the team of firemen that went to handle the flooding and inundation problem on La Digue (05/02/2013)
The media assisted by ensuring that the public remained updated and vigilant to the danger.
The Seychelles government recognises the necessity to continuously improve disaster risk reduction and management within our country as well as the conservation of endemic flora, fauna and the country’s other limited natural resources. We are responsible for safeguarding every individual citizen and visitor to our island nation.
Over the last three years, the emerging concept of the Blue Economy has been embraced by many Small Island Developing States (SIDS) as a mechanism to realise sustainable growth based around an ocean-economy.
The term was first coined by SIDS and other coastal countries during the 2012 Rio +20 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development in recognition of the need to maximise the enormous economic potential of oceans and seas, while preserving them. Since then, it has emerged as a key component of a new global dialogue about the role of the oceans in sustainable development. Claiming a vast Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of 1.37 million km², the second largest in Africa, the government is eager to maximise the full potential of Seychelles’ oceanic territory by applying the Blue Economy concept as the foundation for economic diversification and growth within the islands.
Yet, the question that is often asked is: what exactly constitutes a Blue Economy?
While there is no universally accepted definition for the Blue Economy, for Seychelles the notion of the Blue Economy refers to:
those economic activities that directly or indirectly take place in the ocean and coastal areas, use outputs from the ocean, and put goods and services into ocean’s activities and the contribution of those activities to economic growth, social, cultural and environmental wellbeing.
The scope of its activities includes:
- exploring and developing ocean resources
- using ocean and coastal space
- protecting the ocean environment
- using ocean products as a main input
- providing goods and services to support ocean activities.
The concept of the Blue Economy is not new to Seychelles. Seychelles has benefitted from its ocean resources for more than 200 years with its development of fisheries, its reliance on international and domestic shipping to support trade, its position as a global leader in marine conservation and its tourism industry that has developed tremendously over the past three decades.
Why a Blue Economy? How does it add value to what has already been done?
It is often said that work is best achieved when each component works together in synergy. The core principle encompassed within a Blue Economy is just that, the idea that all components coming together to support the ultimate goal of sustainable development for the Seychellois people and future generations.
By conceptualising the ocean as a development space where spatial planning integrates conservation, sustainable use, resource extraction, sustainable energy production and transport, the Blue Economy offers an alternative economic approach that is guided by environmental principles. It challenges the status quo where oceans have been viewed as a means of free resource and an unlimited sink for the disposal of waste, shifting the focus to one in which ocean values services are included in decision-making and where the benefits are shared more equitably for all Seychellois.
The Blue Economy is fundamentally about social inclusion. It is founded on the belief, that real tangible, effective results may only be achieved if an entire community is involved and works together. Thus, through the inception of the Seychelles Blue Economy in collaboration with the Commonwealth Secretariat, the Seychellois will be presented with a myriad of opportunities, through employment, investment opportunities, academic and skilled training programmes, all of which will undeniably result in a much improved standard of living for our people.
His Excellency Mr James A. Michel President, Republic of Seychelles
At the National Stakeholder Consultation Forum on the Blue Economy held 9-10 December 2014, President James Michel reminded us that: ‘the Blue Economy is not just a space for the creation of socio-economic opportunities but also a powerful means to further foster the nation’s unity, in all of its diversity, through its spin-offs, its activities and benefits. This dialogue on the Blue Economy is not just for one generation. It concerns us all. It concerns our parents and grandparents. It concerns our children. The sea has always been a source of livelihood for the Seychellois. The Blue Economy, we are all convinced, can increase substantially the opportunities from it. The Blue Economy we are aiming for is about participation, the creation of new opportunities and social justice. Every Seychellois has a stake in it.’
Disaster Risk Management Act
The Disaster Risk Management (DRM) Act was enacted by the president in October 2014. It is inspired by the Sendai Framework and designed after analysis of the types of emergencies that the country face, the new developments taking place, experiences that the Division have gone through and also upon consultation of the situation of the world, to better deliver in safeguarding our country and be effective with the Division’s prevention, mitigation and preparation work for any eventualities.
The Act covers inter alia:
PART III – National Disaster Risk Management Agency
PART III – Intergovernmental Structures and Policy Framework
PART IV – Disaster Risk Reduction and Management
PART V – Integrated Emergency Coordination and Management
PART VI – Planning Intelligence, Information Management and Communication
PART VII – National Emergency Communication System
PART VII – National Preparedness and Operations Fund
PART VIII – Obligation of Person Involve in Disaster Risk Management
PART IX – National Focal Person
PART X – Declaration of Disaster
PART X – International Assistance
PART XI – Volunteers
Currently, with lessons learnt, we are revising certain aspects of the Act to strengthen it and add to its regulations so that it can be implemented properly and effectively.
