The high-level conference on near-field tsunamis in the Makran region is being hosted by the Directorate General of Meteorology of the Sultanate of Oman. The IOC-UNESCO Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System (IOTWMS) Secretariat and Indian Ocean Information Centre (IOTIC) are jointly coordinating the conference. The conference will contribute to the project on “Strengthening tsunami early warning in the North West Indian Ocean region through regional collaboration” funded through the ESCAP Trust Fund for Tsunami, Disaster and Climate Preparedness. A major focus of the UNESCAP project is to assure timely tsunami warnings and rapid response with due emphasis on self-protection for near source events. A powerful earthquake in the Makran region could generate destructive tsunami waves capable of inundating coastlines within 20 minutes, thus making it imperative for the Member States in the region to be well prepared to respond. The conference will bring together high-level representatives from the North West Indian Ocean countries to discuss and reflect upon national strategies for tsunami early warning, warning chains, and community preparedness in the context of near-field tsunamis. Attendees will include the Tsunami National Contact, high-level National Disaster Management Centre and National Tsunami Warning Centre representatives from the North West Indian Ocean Member States.

IOC-UNESCO and UNESCAP launch the project on strengthening tsunami early warning in the North West Indian Ocean region through regional cooperation (IOC Tsunami Programme website)