May 2005-Issue 8

Dear Readers,

We are happy to keep you abreast with the key activities and events at ADPC with
this month's updates. Some of the highlights for this month are the important collaborations and partnerships ADPC has recently formalized with two organizations namely the School of Travel Industry Management, University of Hawaii and Focus Humanitarian Assistance - Pakistan, with the signing of two separate Memorandum of Understanding. This month is another eventful month full of training events and important meetings such as the upcoming Regional Consultative Committee Meeting for disaster reduction co-hosted by the Vietnamese Government and ADPC. We will be happy to share with you the outcomes of this important meeting in the forthcoming issues of the updates and through the website.

We would also like to thank the Government of Lao PDR and particularly the NDMO,
Lao PDR and the Lao PDR Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare for the awarding ADPC the "Cross of Labor" for assistance and cooperation extended to Laos over
the past 10 years through the Lao PDR Urban Disaster Mitigation Project.

Suvit Yodmani, Executive Director, Asian Disaster Preparedness Center

ACTIVITIES

MoU Signed between ADPC & School of Travel Industry Management (TIM), University of Hawaii (April 26), Thailand
On April 26 the School of Travel Industry Management, University of Hawaii and ADPC signed a memorandum of understanding to consolidate & intensify mutual support and collaboration in promoting disaster awareness and development of
local capabilities in the Travel and Hospitality Industry and to foster the institutionalizing of disaster management in the Industry. Specific activities will include conducting a workshop on disaster risk management for a Hospitality Facility in collaboration with the Thai Hotels Association (THA), regular exchange of information on new developments of mutual interest etc.

ADPC Invited by UNDP to Assist Sri Lanka in setting up the National Multi-Hazard Early Warning System (April 26- May 1), Sri Lanka
ADPC's Climate Risk Management Team was recently in Sri Lanka to help in setting
up the national multi-hazard early warning system for Sri Lanka upon the invitation of UNDP-Sri Lanka. The team visited Sri Lanka from April 26-May 1 to conduct an initial assessment.

Operational Seminar of the Indian Ocean Disaster Reduction (May 2-6), Thailand
At a seminar initiated by the Cobra Gold Administration Unit 05 of the Royal Thai Army titled "Problems encountered by Royal Thai Army in its Relief Experience" held in Chiang Mai, Thailand from May 2-6, ADPC was invited to provide inputs to draft the operation in disaster mitigation in the Indian Ocean. Some 500 participants consisting of the representative from the military, the government, civilians, the United Nation organizations, local and international NGOs participated in the seminar.

Essay and Painting Competition for School Children Held (May 3), Thailand
As part of promoting awareness on natural disasters among school children an essay and drawing competition was held last month. Of the 75 children from the AIT Community School who took part in an essay competition titled "Lives Lost in Natural Disasters: Who is Responsible?" and painting competition titled "Tsunami
as I see it", 6 students were awarded prizes and certificates on May 3, 2005.

MoU Signed between ADPC & Focus Humanitarian Assistance - Pakistan (FHA-P), (May 5), Thailand
ADPC and FHA-Pakistan signed a Memorandum of Understanding on May 5 to collaborate in promoting disaster awareness and development of local capabilities in institutionalizing disaster risk management in Pakistan under the "Prevention, Mitigation and Preparedness Program" through research, training and capacity building initiatives, raising public awareness, advocacy and lobbying with policy makers.

Lao-PDR Urban Disaster Mitigation Project Completion Lessons Learned Meeting (May 6), Lao PDR
A Lessons Learned meeting was held on May 6, 2005 to consolidate the learning
from the 10 years long project on urban disaster mitigation. As a gesture of
appreciation for important work done in disaster mitigation in Lao PDR and the
assistance provided to NDMO and the Ministry of Labor, ADPC was awarded the
"Cross of Labor" from the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare, Government of
Lao PDR.

EVENTS

WHO Conference on the Health Aspects of the Tsunami Disaster in Asia, (May 4-6) Phuket, Thailand
The World Health Organization in collaboration with the Royal Thai Government organized a conference in Phuket, Thailand from May 4-6 specifically to review health sector experiences with response and early recovery so as to determine successes and limitations and to identify lessons learnt for improving future health sector crisis response and recovery systems and processes. The Director, Public Health in Emergencies Team represented ADPC at this important meeting.

Fifth Regional Consultative Committee Meeting, (May 18-20), Hanoi, Vietnam
The fifth meeting of the RCC on disaster management will be co-hosted by the Vietnamese Government and ADPC from May 18-20 in Hanoi and will coincide with the observation of Vietnam National Day for Disaster Management. Over 50 delegates from 25 countries in Asia and the Pacific Regions are expected to participate in the meeting. The meeting is expected to focus on the RCC advocacy program on mainstreaming disaster risk reduction into development practices.

WORKSHOPS/TRAININGS

Regional workshop to review current capacity building initiatives in Asia and
the Pacific, (May 5-6), Thailand
ADPC in collaboration with the School of Foreign Services, Georgetown University and the Institute of International Migration, with financial support from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation recently undertook a study to review key capacity building initiatives in Asia and the Pacific regions. The initial results of the study was presented at a workshop held from 5-6 in Bangkok, which brought together representatives from a wide spectrum of organizations from over 13 countries covered in the study, with the objective of reviewing the effectiveness of the strategy of disaster management and recovery and to outline specific steps that can be taken to increase capacities of institutions in Asia to better respond to humanitarian emergencies.

International Course on Public Health in Complex Emergencies (May 9-21), Thailand
This two-week course focuses on critical public health issues faced by NGO/PVO
personnel working in complex emergencies. It aims at enhancing the capacities of
humanitarian workers and their organizations to respond better to health needs
of refugees and internally displaced persons affected by emergencies. The course
is being held with funding support from the World Education Inc. (WEI).

First Regional Training Course on Disaster Mental Health (May 23-27), Thailand
ADPC in partnership with the University of South Dakota Disaster Mental Health
Institute (DMHI) will conduct a five-day course on disaster mental health with
the aim of providing mental health professionals the skills and understanding to
develop, implement, supervise and manage psychological support programs to be
better prepared for and respond to disasters.

National Consultation Workshops under PDR-SEA Project Phase 3 (May 26-27), Lao PDR & Vietnam
The Phase 3 of the Partnership for Disaster Reduction Southeast Asia Project
funded by DIPECHO and jointly being implemented with UNESCAP has started its
implementation. As a follow-up to the inception meeting held in April, national
consultation workshops will be held in Lao PDR and Vietnam towards the end of
this month.

UPCOMING EVENTS IN JUNE

• National Consultation Workshops in Cambodia, East Timor & Indonesia - PDR-SEA Project Phase 3 (June 6-14)

• Training & Orientation Workshop on Developing Disaster Risk Management
  Database -PDR-SEA Project Phase 3 (dates to be finalized)