The Syrian Future Movement is closely following the announcement issued by the Ministry of Emergency Situations and Disaster Management on Friday, July 17, 2026, regarding the activation of the “ECMWF ecCharts” platform developed by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF). This step aims to strengthen the multi-hazard early warning system and enhance the monitoring, analysis, and forecasting capabilities of the National Meteorological Center.
This move comes two months after the Ministry’s announcement, on May 17, 2026, of the activation of the Combined Alert System (CAP), which enables the dissemination of unified warnings via media outlets and mobile phones.
The Syrian Future Movement views this as a manifestation of the state’s commitment to protecting its citizens and strengthening its resilience against natural disasters, which are among the top challenges facing Syria at present.
The Syrian Future Movement appreciates this significant step and commends the efforts of the Ministry of Emergency Situations and Disaster Management in adopting the latest global technologies, considering it a practical demonstration of the state’s commitment to protecting its citizens and enhancing its resilience against natural disasters. The platform, activated in Syria for the first time, provides access to the latest numerical weather prediction products, including forecasts for rainfall, wind, temperature, and extreme weather events, in addition to advanced interactive maps that support monitoring, analysis, and data-driven decision-making.
The Syrian Future Movement indicates that the activation of this platform comes at a time when Syria is facing escalating climate challenges that threaten food and water security and social stability, and that the platform will contribute to enhancing the ability to predict floods, droughts, and extreme weather events.
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) estimates that the devastating floods that swept through parts of northeastern Syria in late May 2026 destroyed approximately 10,000 hectares of wheat that were close to harvest, affected some 6,000 families, and resulted in the loss of an estimated 30,000 metric tons of wheat. FAO officials described these floods as “another blow” to an already fragile agricultural sector.
The Syrian Future Movement reiterates its unwavering support for strengthening national capabilities in confronting natural disasters, as published on its official website. This includes:
- The statement on the “Echo of Resilience” project in the northern Aleppo countryside (dated July 3, 2026), in which the Movement commended the efforts made to remove the effects of war and rehabilitate infrastructure.
- The statement on the “Rehabilitation of the Second Largest Pumping Station in Aleppo” (dated July 9, 2026), which emphasized that rehabilitating water infrastructure is a strategic investment in food and service security.
Based on its national responsibility, the Syrian Future Movement recommends the following:
- Investing in training and developing national personnel to ensure the optimal use of the platform’s capabilities and enhancing the analytical and predictive capacities of the National Meteorological Center, in line with the Ministry’s confirmation that the platform will be integrated into the national early warning system.
- Linking the platform’s outputs to emergency response plans to ensure that early warnings translate into practical measures that protect lives and property and strengthen coordination between operations centers and relevant authorities.
- Enhancing community awareness of disaster risks by launching national awareness campaigns targeting all segments of society, especially the most vulnerable groups in rural and remote areas suffering from weak infrastructure. The Ministry emphasized that the platform will contribute to strengthening community awareness by providing accurate and timely information.
- Intensifying cooperation with the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and international partners to exchange expertise and data, and to enhance Syria’s capacity to adapt to and mitigate the effects of climate change, in line with the Ministry’s emphasis on strengthening cooperation with the WMO and international partners.
The Syrian Future Movement reiterates its welcome of this important step, which confirms the Syrian government’s commitment to protecting its citizens and strengthening its national capabilities in confronting natural disasters.
We also reiterate that climate change poses an existential threat, and that investing in early warning systems is an investment in Syria’s future.
We believe that the Syrian government and international partners are called upon to build on this step, expand the scope of cooperation, and ensure that this platform becomes a model of successful partnership in disaster management, a source for improving the lives of citizens, and a foundation for building a new Syria based on resilience and sustainable development.
