Caretaker Minister of Public Works and Transport Ali Hamieh discussed with the Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), Celeste Saulo, the prospects for developing cooperation between Lebanon and the WMO, on the sidelines of his participation in the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Conference.
Lebanon is keen to benefit from the advanced expertise of the WMO—the UN’s authoritative body on weather, climate and water issues—in the field of meteorology, given the importance of monitoring climate change and its impact on various agricultural and economic fields, as well as on roads, infrastructure, ports, etc.
A team from the organization will be assigned to assess the airport’s meteorological service to determine what needs are required.
Hamieh reminded conference attendees that “due to a series of crises that have occurred in Lebanon over the past five years, the Lebanese airport meteorological service is facing great difficulties in terms of human skills preservation, capacity development, construction and expertise.”
He pointed out that “climate change in the region and the world, particularly in Lebanon, has exacerbated the difficulties faced by the various Lebanese sectors.”
