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Vol. 8, No. 1 January-March 2002
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Get Safer Cities ... Before Disasters Strike ADPC has launched its first Safer Cities case study. The Safer Cities series presents strategies and approaches to urban disaster mitigation derived from AUDMP-initiated analyses of real-life experiences in Asia. This user-friendly resource will provide an array of proven ideas, practices, tools, policy options and lessons for urban disaster mitigation, while highlighting the principles of broad-based participation, partnerships, sustainability and replication of success stories. Each case study allows readers to explore a city’s experience through a pair of thematic spectacles. The first study, for example, focuses on community-based disaster management under AUDMP’s Kathmandu Valley Earthquake Risk Management Project (KVERMP). It highlights lessons learned from a pioneering process developed in Kathmandu’s Ward 34 and the implementation of a participatory approach in KVERMP’s School Earthquake Safety Program. Two more scheduled case studies from Cambodia will also have a community focus, showcasing ways in which Cambodian communities have empowered themselves to reduce disaster risks. Other upcoming themes include risk assessment, action planning, emergency management and response planning, risk-based urban planning, public awareness, information and networking, training and school earthquake safety programs. For more information on the Safer Cities series, please contact Christine Apikul, Information and Networking Coordinator, at ccapikul@ait.ac.th. “Stonecretes” Improved Lives Last month’s AUDM News highlighted breakthroughs of KVERMP’s School Earthquake Safety Program in training masons on earthquake-resistant building techniques in Kavresthali. This initiative has not only made Kavresthali safer but has significantly improved livelihoods. One example is the increased daily rate charged by trained masons, from NRs 200 (US$ 2.60) to NRs 300 (US$ 3.90).
Another significant change occurred during the demolition of the Kavresthali School for reconstruction. The school was made of stone and once knocked down, the large heap of stone was difficult to ignore. As a result, the dismantled stones were broken into small pieces and filled into hollow concrete blocks that could be easily molded by villagers. Laboratory tests showed that these “stonecretes” were stronger than bricks. The community was able to reduce the cost of building materials and a new livelihood option was initiated – making stonecretes during periods of field fallow. ISDR Links
Disaster Reduction with Sustainable Development
The Secretariat for the United Nation’s
International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR) released a background
paper detailing its vision and direction on integrating disaster risk
reduction with sustainable development. The paper outlines the framework
and strategy the Secretariat hope will be included in the Program for
Action at the upcoming World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) at
Johannesburg, South Africa from 26 August to 4 September 2002.
The
WSSD will not open Agenda 21 for revision, but will seek consensus on the
general assessment of current conditions, and on priorities for further
action on new issues. WSSD will also assess the legacy of Rio UNCED-92. A
Johannesburg Program of Action will be adopted for renewed commitment to
the implementation of Agenda 21 based on clear commitments, target
delivery mechanisms, resources and monitoring.
You
could all contribute to the process leading to the WSSD by raising the
awareness of relevant national authorities or stakeholders on the need to
include disaster reduction in the agenda to be discussed during the
Preparatory Committee in New York as well as in the Program for Action of
Johannesburg.
ISDR’s
background paper can be downloaded in pdf format from http://www.johannesburgsummit.org/html/documents/backgrounddocs/unisdr%20report.pdf
or http://www.unisdr.org/unisdr/indexpage2.htm
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Information, Research & Network Support
Asian Disaster Preparedness Center
P.O.Box 4, Klong Luang, Pathumthani 12120, Thailand.
Tel: (66-2) 524-5378; Fax: (66-2) 524-5360; Email:kamal@ait.ac.th
