On the banks of the Lempa River, in La Pita, El Salvador, the river provides food and income in the dry season through fishing and gathering mangrove crabs. But when the rains come, the same river becomes a threat.
To face that risk, twenty women from six communities in San Vicente have been trained as drone pilots, reports the United Nations World Food Programme. From the air they watch the current, spot vulnerable areas and assess flood risk without putting themselves in danger, strengthening early warning systems.
Before, keeping track of the river meant going close to its banks at risky moments and measuring the water with simple, precarious methods. “What I enjoy most is that I can see my whole community without taking risks,” says crab gatherer Carolina Lovato.
Jocelyn Cristabel Rosales, 32 and a mother of two, never imagined flying drones. Her children tell her they are proud of her, and her next goal is to share what she has learned with other women.
