Afghanistan
Afghanistan, with no functioning early warning system, suffered devastating losses due to extreme weather: 15,000 deaths and US$ 396 million in economic damages between 1980 and 2015. Decades of conflict had destroyed infrastructure, leaving communities defenseless against floods, storms, and droughts. Today, that reality has changed. WMO and its partners have worked on the ground in Afghanistan to implement a fully operational Early Warning System (EWS) and to reconnect the country to the global meteorological networks, which is essential for providing timely, accurate forecasts.
Afghanistan’s transformation is a testament to the power of science, investment and global cooperation. WMO’s efforts have turned vulnerability into resilience, proving that early warnings are not just forecasts—they are lifelines.