Colourful flood markers transform river safety in Viqueque, Timor-Leste

Above: Community member Merlinda Menezes explains how the water level measurement system is used. Photo: Iria Cecilia Soares/CARE Timor-Leste

For villages along the Bebui River in Viqueque, Timor-Leste, the river is an important water source and part of daily life. But during the annual rainy season, flash flooding can turn a river crossing into a life-threatening choice, with annual fatalities. Women, who use the river for a number of household tasks like washing clothes, and children, who enjoy playing in the water, are particularly at risk.

Through the Australian Humanitarian Partnership’s Disaster READY program, CARE International in Timor-Leste has been working with Suco Disaster Management Committees (SDMC) to support communities to develop Disaster Preparedness Plans using a participatory approach.

As part of this planning, three communities decided to work together to install an early warning system to reduce the risks from flooding on the Bebui River.  

Above: A sign in the community explains the warning system levels using Tetum. Photo: Iria Cecilia Soares/CARE Timor-Leste

With the support of CARE Timor-Leste and Disaster READY, and in collaboration with government, the communities designed and installed a water level measurement and risk reduction billboard next to the river, using a clear colour-coded system to communicate the river level – green, yellow, orange and red. CARE Timor-Leste worked with community members to share information about the early warning system, and conducted a simulation exercise. The SDMC was also provided with technical support on monitoring water levels and weather conditions, knowledge which is now put into action during the annual wet season.

The community’s work is already showing tangible results: there were no fatalities during the 2020-21 wet season, including during heavy flooding in April this year.

After many tragedies in the past, community members attribute this to the new system.

Merlinda Menezes, 39, says that she changes her activities near the river now based on warnings or weather forecasts.

“For example, if the weather shows that there will be rain in upland area, I ensure my children do not play around or swim in the river and I avoid washing clothes at the riverbank,” Merlinda said.

“Other community members are doing the same and we always consult the billboard and water level measurement before deciding to cross the river. Before we just had to use sticks or feel the level of water using our feet, but now we can easily measure the level of water based on the colour definition.”

Dasuate Village Chief Abilio Canisio, 48, is a member of the SDMC and feels the system has had very positive impacts for the community. 

Above: A billboard in the village explaining the early warning system and river risks. Photo: Iria Cecilia Soares/CARE Timor-Leste

“The billboard is very easy to understand and monitor. I always keep my eye on it. The risk of the Bebui River is now lower than before and this is totally due to the installed early warning system.”

Fransisco da Silva, Lari Village Chief and SDMC member, reiterated the positive changes from the system.

“My role is to always monitor and observe the level of water, including the weather in upland areas. If there are clouds, then we quickly inform the community to not wash their clothes along the river, avoid crossing the river and to prevent kids from swimming or playing around the river.”

The Disaster READY program, supported by the Australian Government through the Australian Humanitarian Partnership, focuses on inclusive community-based disaster risk management to ensure that people with disabilities, women and children are involved in disaster planning and that their different needs are being met. In Timor-Leste, the program is delivered in partnership between Oxfam Australia, Plan International Australia, World Vision Australia and CARE Australia.