Disaster Mitigation
in Asia

29 February 2008
Issue No. 56

The Program for Hydro-Meteorological Disaster Mitigation in Secondary Cities in Asia (PROMISE), funded by USAID/OFDA, commenced from October 2005. Through consultations with a number of ADPC partners, five project countries have been selected – Bangladesh, Pakistan, the Philippines, Sri Lanka and Vietnam – for implementing demonstration projects in each country in a highly vulnerable city with recent history of hydro-meteorological disasters. Other components of the program consist of capacity building, risk management advocacy, networking and dissemination initiatives in the selected countries. The objective of the program is to contribute towards reduction of vulnerability of urban communities through enhanced preparedness and mitigation of hydro-meteorological disasters in South and Southeast Asia. The main activities from January to March 2008 are: implementing the small-scale mitigation projects for each city, preparing for city-level workshops on disaster mitigation, promoting school safety, planning for the conduct of national courses, and development of case study material.

PROGRAM ACTIVITIES for February and March 2008:

• BANGLADESH – BDPC signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the National Institute of Local Government on February 14. NILG is mandated to conduct training courses for local government functionaries, both at the urban and local level. The implementation activities of community mitigation projects have started this month. The improvement of the drainage system through the re-excavation of a canal in Ward 40 started on February 5, with laborers from the community engaged in the excavation and raising of the banks. The installation of the pond sand filter started on February 10, 2008. The orientation about the design and construction technique was held on February 8 for the community masons, with NGO Forum personnel as resource persons. The Ward Commissioners of the respective Wards and BDPC PROMISE team are responsible for over all monitoring and follow up.
  Two school awareness sessions under the community mitigation project were held on February 19. The first school session took place in Ananda Bazar Govt. Primary school; 300 students from class 3 to 5 attended. The other session was held in Halishahor Munshi Govt. Primary school; around 350 students, teachers attended. A power point presentation on hydro-meteorological hazard, vulnerabilities of school buildings and students during disasters, and measures for school disaster risk reduction was made at the session. The participants were informed about makeshift shelter as well as the evacuation route. A strategy for raising school emergency fund was also shared. School disaster management committees comprising teachers, students and parents were formed at the end of the sessions. The construction work for increasing WATSAN facilities of the pilot school started during the 3rd week of February.
  Arrangements are under way for the city-level workshop to be held at the CDA hall room on March 3. The workshop’s main objective is to create awareness of the vulnerability of Chittagong, and to develop a city disaster management plan. The PROMISE-BD team met with Mr. A.K.M. Khairul Alam, Chief Executive Officer of CCC on February 11 and requested him to confirm and extend cooperation for the workshop. The WASA and the chairman of Chittagong Development Authority have agreed to grace the event as special guests, and the honorable Mayor of Chittagong City Corporation will be Chief Guest. Some 60-70 participants from government and NGOs are expected to attend.
   

• PAKISTAN – AKPBS,P has started monitoring the implementation of demonstration projects. For the project on reducing physical vulnerability through developing flood mitigation infrastructure in Ghera Sudhar Community, the community is involved in excavation for laying storm water and regular drainage lines and in constructing four pour-flush latrines. In addition to the four latrines, the local government committed to constructing 12 more. The work started in the last week of January, and is expected to be completed by end of March 2008. Work is continuing on the street raising and drainage improvement in Aliabad, with earth filling almost completed, and work on storm water drains is expected to start soon. The project should be completed in second week of March 2008. Work has started for reducing vulnerability of communities through flood mitigation demonstration projects in Thakur Colony. The main activities include community mobilization for savings generation, constructing approximately 850 feet of drains, 15000 filling cubic feet of earth in the streets of Mohallah, constructing two communal latrines, and health and hygiene education. One community latrine is done. Work has just started on the installation and rehabilitation of a drainage line in UC #2, Latifabad, with activities similar to the previous project.
  Preparations have begun for the city-level workshop for finalizing the District Disaster Management Plan. PROMISE-PK held a meeting with Deputy District Nazim Hyderabad on February 6 to discuss the progress of PROMISE-Pakistan, and to thank them for their promotion of a number of initiatives in PROMISE project sites, including the construction of additional communal latrines. It was mutually decided to organize the city level workshop in the 2nd or 3rd week of March, after the February 18 General Elections.
   

• PHILIPPINES – CDP and the TWG participated in the development of a video on Mangin’s CBDRM efforts, funded by Oxfam Great Britain. Pre-production was done in early February, and the filming was done in the 3rd week of February. The script features the various PROMISE activities done in Mangin as one of its eight implementation sites, including: CBDRM Training, Participatory Risk Assessment, community participation, community Risk Reduction Plan including the Early Warning System and Evacuation Plan, flood response simulation exercise, winning the Regional Kalasag Award for disaster preparedness, and the partnership between Barangay Mangin’s disaster coordinating council with the city’s DCC.
  On February 21, PROMISE-Philippines had a turnover ceremony for the following: small-scale disaster mitigation projects, public awareness calendars, and first aid kits for trained people from the eight pilot barangays and the City. During the program, Ms. Luneta explained the concept of the small-scale disaster mitigation projects wherein the pilot communities where given opportunity to select and implement a risk reduction measure based on their identified needs and identified risk reduction measures in their Participatory Risk Assessment. City Agriculturist Emma Molina explained the contracts and obligations of the pilot communities for the projects, the financial reports and counterpart contributions the communities must make, and that the date of completion is March 31. The Public Awareness Calendar (designed by the CIO) aims to promote the City Early Warning System and the Promotion of the preparedness activities of project PROMISE and partners. The calendar will be given to all 31 barangays of Dagupan City, as well as to neighboring cities and municipalities, and CDP partners in the Philippines and other countries. Dagupan City Mayor Alipio Fernandez gave a message of thanks and support to the Project, and the program ended with the expression of thanks and commitment from the Barangay Captains.
  The TWG and the Barangay Captains of the pilot communities had a study tour on February 28 to Guagua and Minalin municipalities in Pampanga province. The visit to Guagua’s Municipal Disaster Coordinating Council was to showcase the MDCC’s experience in Disaster Risk Management. Resource persons were Municipal Administrator/Municipal Action Officer Isaias Panganiban Jr., Municipal Planning Officer Elsa Perez Pantino, and the Municipal Engineer. The tour was also shown the Municipal GIS and how they used it for DRM, monitioring, community moblization, emergency response, local ordinances, and indigenous mitigation. The visit to Minalin was to see the Community-Based Disaster Response Organizations, a peoples' organization mobilized by the Pampanga Disaster Response Network. They shared how they coordinated and helped activated the BDCC's in their areas. During the visit to both areas the TWG and the Barangay Captains interacted and also shared their experiences in DRM. The tour gave them more insights, knowledge, different experiences of different sectors, and new friends and partners in DRM field. The event was attended by 25 Technical Working Group members, seven BDCC members and three CDP staff.

• SRI-LANKA – Sarvodaya continued overseeing the implementation of the small-scale disaster mitigation projects. The micro-credit program began this month, as well as the installation of flood markers in Kalu river.
   

• VIETNAM – CECI incorporating city’s comments and ADPC comments on the basic guidelines on safe construction techniques, and finalized the book this month of February. A training class on construction monitoring techniques with field visit was conducted for 18 members of four Community Development Groups. The purpose was to facilitate the sustainability of the projects. Some progress has been made for each. Construction has started for sections of the dyke for Hoa Tay Tan ward. The foundations of the evacuation bridge for Hoa Xuan ward have been laid. The old drain in intersection 16-29-33 in Danang has been removed to prepare for the new drain.
  These training classes on Disaster Preparedness and Building Practices were expanded to six wards of Cam Le district. These two-day training classes are on risk identification and assessment, development of disaster preparedness plan and good building practices towards a safer community. Five more training classes were conducted this month for a total of 19 out of 20 classes proposed by the community. These classes are under the small-scale non-structural disaster mitigation projects. Around 150 persons, of which there were 60 women, attended, bringing up the total of 570 grassroots people trained on CBDRM and safer construction techniques.
  For the project to improve the (equivalent of an) emergency operation center of Danang, PROMISE Vietnam provided emergency facilities to help strengthen access of the community in getting early warnings and quick response before, during and after disasters. Generators and electric saws were delivered this month, and wireless loudspeakers and first aid bags will be delivered next month. Training kits were prepared to facilitate a team of nineteen local trainers for basic emergency response coursework. On the basic of the CBERC training manual of ADPC, PORMISE-VN in collaboration with the Danang City Red Cross revised the manual to fit into local context. Refresher training is planned for early next month, to be followed by 17 training classes to first responders at community level.
  Content of the picture book for awareness raising on disaster preparedness and environment protection is being finalized. The book should be completed next month and distributed to primary schools. PROMISE collaborated with the District Broadcasting Department to develop a weekly column on disaster mitigation to raise awareness on risk assessment, how to develop a participatory plan, stories on CBDR. Radio broadcasts on disaster preparedness are heard usually during disaster periods. This CBDRM program, in contrast, would be broadcasted twice a week.
   

 A. From the Region

(1) Indonesian floods displace thousands, February 2
(based on reports by Reuters)

Heavy rain and high tides have caused chaos in Jakarta for three days, as thousands abandoned homes or cars, and blocked the roads to the airport.  Three people had died in west Jakarta and nearly 100,000 people were displaced, but few had reported diarrhea or other problems.  Thousands were trapped in traffic jams for more than 12 hours.  The Jakarta airport was closed for several hours due to poor visibility on Friday January 31, delayed many flights, and created a backlog and long delays in other cities including Singapore. 

(2) Bird flu affects South Asia
(based on reports by Reuters)

The World Health Organization has said India's outbreak was its most serious outbreak yet, but state authorities in West Bengal were optimistic the disease had peaked.  There have been no reported human infections.  Authorities in eastern India banned the trade and consumption of poultry.  Pakistan authorities confirmed an outbreak of the H5N1 strain of bird flu at a poultry farm on the outskirts of Karachi, and a team from WHO isolated and tested 12 workers from the farm.  A new outbreak was also confirmed in Abbotabad in Pakistan's North West Frontier Province.  Bird flu has spread to the Bangladesh capital Dhaka and to the port city Chittagong despite efforts by authorities to contain it.  In Chittagong, officials confirmed the spread of bird flu in several farms and also in crows that tested positive for the strain.  Nearly 100,000 farms have been shut down in Bangladesh due to recent outbreaks of the deadly H5N1 virus, leaving around 2.5 million people out of a job. 

(3) Harsh winter in Central Asia
(based on reports from Reuters)

More than 760 people have perished as a result of severe cold and heavy snowfalls this winter across Afghanistan.  The worst affected areas were the western provinces of Herat and Badghis where some people had to have amputations because of frostbite.  Several families sold their children recently because they were unable to care for or feed them.  The snowfalls have destroyed more than 500 houses, damaged more than 40,000, and blocked key roads linking districts with provincial.  More than 300,000 cattle and sheep were killed.  Heavy seasonal flooding is also expected when the snow thaws with the oncoming spring.  The Afghan government and UN agencies have started work on a number of preparatory measures to protect and assist people.  Meanwhile, the winter has produced prolonged power outages and emerging food insecurity in Tajikistan.  Authorities are bracing for a compound humanitarian emergency.  Severe flooding has hit Kazakhstan after a sudden rise in temperatures on February 20 following weeks of severe cold.  One person was killed in the floods, and 12,700 had to be evacuated from Kazakhstan's most populous region bordering Uzbekistan after rain-swollen rivers swept away houses and bridges. 

(4) Floods in Central Philippines
(based on reports from Reuters, CNN and the NDCC)

A low pressure area dumped heavy rains that triggered landslides and floods across the eastern part of the Visayas, killed 35 people, left 10 missing, and displaced thousands. Most of the deaths have occurred due to drowning in Eastern Samar province, but at least 11 people were killed by landslides.  Total damage to roads and bridges in three flood-hit southern regions was put at 825.5 million pesos ($20 million) while 263 million pesos worth of agricultural crops, mostly rice and corn, were destroyed.  Six deaths were also reported in Mindanao.  The entire province of Albay in Bicol, the eastern half of Samar island and one town in Capiz have been placed under a state of emergency.

B. Calls for Submission

(5) Call for Papers: Annual Hazards and Disasters Student Paper Competition

The Natural Hazards Center is pleased to announce its fifth annual Hazards and Disasters Student Paper Competition.  Papers may present current research, literature reviews, theoretical arguments, or case studies.  Subject matter may include, but is not limited to, floods/floodplain management, Hurricane Katrina, earthquakes, climate change, warning systems, hazard mitigation, emergency management, vulnerability, or other topics relevant to the social/behavioral aspects of hazards and disasters.  Papers will be judged on their originality, organization, and demonstrated knowledge of the topic.  One undergraduate and one graduate winner each will receive $100; mention in the Natural Hazards Observer; publication on the Natural Hazards Center Web site; and an invitation to the Annual Hazards Workshop in Boulder, Colorado, registration fees included.  The deadline for submission is March 14, 2008.  Additional information is available at: http://www.colorado.edu/hazards/awards/paper-competition.html. 

(6) Call for Papers: Disaster & Development

The editorial board of the journal Disaster & Development is inviting original paper submissions for forthcoming issues.  The journal covers a wide range of issues on disaster risk reduction and focuses on linkages between disasters and development strategies.  The journal often highlights cross-cutting issues, like role of GIS, gender issues, economic and environmental impacts, risk finance, policy instruments, land use, and so on.  For more information, contact Anil Gupta at agupta@rhsmith.umd.edu.

C. Conferences and Courses

(7) National Conference on Mainstreaming Disaster Risk Reduction in Local Governance – Makati City, Philippines: 4-6 March 2008

Organizer: Department of the Interior and Local Government, Government of the Philippines.  The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) is convening the First National Conference on Mainstreaming Disaster Risk Reduction in Local Governance.  The conference will bring together officials from national, regional and local authorities, and disaster management practitioners to share their best practices, experiences, and initiatives to reduce vulnerabilities to natural disasters and mitigate potential disaster damage and losses on the local level.  Conference topics include: opportunities provided by risk financing and risk transfer; the role of the private sector in DRR; and mainstreaming DRR in planning and budgeting in different administrative levels.  For more information, please contact Dr. Marqueza L. Reyes, UP Department of Geography, University of the Philippines, ncdrr_2007@yahoo.com, and Ms. Priscella Mejillano, Bureau of Local Government Development, DILG, ncdrr_dilg2008@yahoo.com. 

(8) 37^th Regional Training Course on Disaster Management – Bangkok, Thailand: March 17 – April 4, 2008

Organizer: Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC).  This ADPC flagship course aims to facilitate effective strategies and systems for disaster prevention, mitigation, response and recovery, applying risk management processes in order to identify, assess and deal with disaster risk assessment, utilizing an emergency coordination center to manage disaster events and assess key implementation issues and requirements in disaster management.  To download the course brochure, please go to: http://www.adpc.net/v2007/TRG/TRAINING%20COURSES/Special%20Courses/2007/DMC-37/ADPC-TRG-brochure-DMC-37-2007-v1.pdf. 

(9) International Conference on Earthquake Engineering and Disaster Mitigation – Jakarta, Indonesia: 14-15 April 2008

Organizers: Indonesian Earthquake Engineering Association (IEEA) and Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB). This international conference, titled Earthquake Disaster Risk Reduction: Engineering Challenges after Recent Disasters, will provide an opportunity to share views and experiences regarding lessons learned from recent and past earthquakes, to formulate action plans for anticipating future earthquakes. Session topics will include advances in earthquake engineering, seismic and tsunami - from hazard to risk assessments; disaster mitigation and management, rehabilitation, and reconstruction; case-histories; on-shore and off-shore earthquake resistant facilities; tsunami warning system; and other related subjects. Two optional post-conference activities will be provided.  For further details, please go to: http://www.si.itb.ac.id/iceedm08. 

(10) Regional Course on on Climate Risk Management: Science, Institutions, and Society – Bangkok, Thailand: April 21 to May 2, 2008

Organizer: Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC).  The course provides an opportunity to enhance the capabilities of professionals to manage risks associated with climate variability, change, and extremes.  For more information on this course, please click here to download

 (11) 5^th Asia Oceania Geosciences Society Conference (AOGS 2008) – Busan, Korea: 16-20 June 2008

This conference assembles scientists to discuss recent research. Scientists studying atmospheric science, hydrological science, planetary science, solar terrestrial science, solid earth science, ocean science, or interdisciplinary groups are encouraged to attend. The conference exhibition provides an opportunity for organizations in both public and private sectors to present their objectives and programs to the worldwide geoscience community. Visit http://www.asiaoceania.org/aogs2008.
 

(12) International Workshop on management and rehabilitation of tsunami-affected soils – Bogor, Indonesia: 1-2 July 2008

Organizers: Indonesian Soil Research Institute and New South Wales Department of Primary Industries.  The workshop aims to share experiences in restoring agricultural productivity on tsunami-affected soils, with particular focus on soils.  The general theme of the workshop is “Lessons learned for agricultural and environmental restoration in the aftermath of the 2004 tsunami”. Sub-themes include: Processes and management of tsunami-affected soils; Crop adaptability in salt-affected soils; and Institutional development for the recovery of tsunami-affected areas.  Papers on the sub-themes are invited; deadline for application to attend or present is 4 April 2008.  For details, send email to: Fahmuddin Agus fahmuddin_agus@yahoo.com, or Gavin Tinning gavin.tinning@dpi.nsw.gov.au, or visit the site: http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/research/projects/06P302.

D. Useful Resources

(13) “Preparing Your Community for Tsunamis: A Guidebook for Local Advocates”, GeoHazards International, 2007

Version 2 of the tsunami preparedness guidebook has photographs, maps, and a more polished presentation.  The guidebook provides a step-by-step approach to making communities safer, and describes what to do to prepare communities for tsunamis and how to do it so that people pay attention.  To view the guide, go to: http://www.geohaz.org/contents/projects/tsunamiguide.html.  

(14) Management of Dead Bodies after Disasters: A Field Manual for First Responders, PAHO

Realizing that care of the dead is often overlooked in disaster planning, this peer-reviewed manual presents simple recommendations for emergency management practitioners to manage the recovery, basic identification, and storage of dead bodies.  This manual was prepared by the Pan American Health Organization, the World Health Organization, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.  To download, go to: http://www.paho.org/English/DD/PED/DeadBodiesFieldManual.htm.

(15) Two video documentaries on Cyclone Sidr, BDPC, 2008

The Bangladesh Disaster Preparedness Centre (BDPC) produced two documentaries on SIDR, and held a launching at the Directorate of Relief and Rehabilitation (DRR) Conference room in Dhaka on 15 January 2008.  The short documentary films titled “Phoenix: Surviving SIDR” and “Coordination of SIDR Response” tries to present a clearer picture about the ground reality, especially and focused on community resilience and coordination.  ‘Phoenix: Surviving SIDR’ highlighted the fighting spirit of the resilient people of the coastal belt of Bangladesh, who are devastated by super cyclones time and again, and yet survive the onslaughts and revive lives like the phoenix ‘Coordination of SIDR Response’ dwells on the issue of coordination.  To view both documentaries, find the link at the BDPC homepage: http://bdpc.org.bd/.  Present at the launching were representatives from government departments, NGOs, INGOs and development agencies including the Asian Disaster Preparedness Center, the Comprehensive Disaster Management Programme , the UN Development Programme, and the US Agency for International Development.  Mr. K.H. Masud Siddiqui, Director General, Disaster Management Bureau (DMB) attended the program as the guest of honor.  Open discussions held after the showing reflected mainly on the issues to avoid duplication in order to establish effective coordination between NGOs and government and among the government departments at all levels (upazila, district, and national).

(16) Country Focus 6: Philippines

This section is a focus on online resources on the countries under the GUGSA project or PROMISE program, both funded by USAID.  The countries that will be featured are (in order): Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Viet Nam.  Here is a list of online resources on the Philippines:

• Safer Cities 16: Cooperation between Local Authority and Communities Reduces Flood Disaster Risk in Dagupan City, Philippines, April 2007: http://www.adpc.net/v2007/Programs/UDRM/PROMISE/INFORMATION%20RESOURCES/Safer%20Cities/Downloads/SaferCities16.pdf

• “The Philippine Disaster Management Story: Issues and Challenges,” by ADPC, October 2001: http://www.adpc.net/PDR-SEA/publications/9-PhilDMS.pdf

• Hazard, Vulnerability and Risk Assessment of selected barangays of Dagupan, by Dagupan City Government and the Center for Disaster Preparedness, November 2006: http://www.adpc.net/v2007/Programs/UDRM/PROMISE/PROGRAM%20COMPONENTS/Component1/HVR%20Assessments/Comp1_Dagupan.pdf

• Training Report: Barangay Disaster Risk Management training in selected barangays of Dagupan City, June 2006: http://www.adpc.net/v2007/Programs/UDRM/PROMISE/PROGRAM%20COMPONENTS/Component2/BDRM_Dagupan.pdf

• Naga City Disaster Mitigation Plan, by the Naga City Government and Philippines Business for Social Progress, August 2001: http://www.adpc.net/AUDMP/library/work_papers/ph1.pdf

• “Philippines: Critical Development Constraints,” by ADB, December 2007: http://www.adb.org/Documents/Books/Philippines-Critical-Dev-Constraints/default.asp

• ISDR Profile of the Philippines: http://www.unisdr.org/eng/country-inform/philippines-general.htm

• AlertNet’s profile of the Philippines: http://www.alertnet.org/db/cp/philippines.htm

• EMI’s disaster risk management profile of Metro Manila: http://emi.pdc.org/cities/CP-Metro-Manila-08-05.pdf

• ADB Portal on the Philippines: http://www.adb.org/Philippines/default.asp