Disaster Mitigation
in Asia

31 July 2008
Issue No. 61

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 July and August 2008:

• BANGLADESH – PROMISE-Bangladesh has completed three of the small-scale disaster mitigation projects: Jalalabad, Ward 2 – widening of a drainage system; North Potenga, Ward 40 – silt removing of canal and improvements to drainage system by raising the side walls; and South Potenga, Ward 41 – installation of pond filter to generate drinking water as the available ground is with high salinity. The remaining two projects will be finished in August. PROMISE-BD will meet with officials of Chittagong City Corporation on August 10 to share the land use planning guidelines and SOPs for an EOC. PROMISE-BD attended the PROMISE Second Working Group Meeting in Da Nang, Viet Nam, from July 15 to 17. The Bangladesh delegation made the following presentations:

  • Mr. M. Chaki - Setting up Urban Search and Rescue Teams at Community Level

  • Ms. D. Haider - Access to DRR through School Safety Program

  • Mr. M. Chaki - Community Level DRM Committees
    Ms. D. Haider - DRR through Effective CBDRM

  • Mr. H. Ur Rashid - Community Ownership for Small Scale Demonstration Projects
     

• INDONESIA – PROMISE-Indonesia held a focus group discussion on June 25 with stakeholders to validate the results of the risk assessment for the Tebet sub-district. On July 11, they met the TWG of Jakarta Provincial Government to present the risk map, plan the CBDRR interventions at grassroots level, to begin preparations for the Town Watching methodology (a variation of the participatory risk assessment that has been used for urban areas), and begin developing the emergency response plan for the Jakarta EOC. Dr. Harkunti later attended the WGM-2 in behalf of PROMISE-ID.
   

  PAKISTAN – PROMISE-Pakistan completed the small-scale disaster mitigation projects in Aliabad and Thakur Colony this month. The remaining projects should be finished in August. The PROMISE-PK project activities are finished as of July 31; the remaining tasks are the writing and submission of the final report. The Pakistani delegation gave the following presentations:

  • Mr. F. Khan - Practices for Mainstreaming DRR

  • Mr. F. Khan - Resource Sharing and PPP

  • Ms. Rana Ansar - Planning & Implementation Process for DRR

  • Ms. Rana Ansar - Governance – An Effective Tool for DRR

• PHILIPPINES – PROMISE-Philippines The WGM in Vietnam last July 15-17, 2008 proved to be a very fruitful meeting. It was attended by all the PROMISE Project countries. The meeting became a venue of rich sharing of experiences in DRR in different countries. The highlights of the meeting were the Case Studies of Good Practices from the different project areas; the Philippine participants and their presentations were:

  • Mayor Alipio F. Fernandez., Jr presented on Mainstreaming DRR

  • Barangay Captain Bernard Cabison of Mangin presented on Transfer of Technology for EWS

  • Ms. Emma J. Molina presented on Governance and SSMP

  • Dr. Leonard Carbonell presented on the Planning and Implementation of the Emergency Plan of the City and the community

  • Mr. Robert Erfe Mejia presented on Networking and Partnerships

  • Ms. Mayfourth Luneta presented on the Planning and Implementation of the Project PROMISE with CBDRR as the framework

  PROMISE–Philippines had a project assessment on July 2 and 3 at the PTA Beach Resort in San Fabian, Pangasinan. The objectives of the assessment were: 1) to see what went well and what needs to be improved in the PROMISE Project; and 2) The ways forward for the sustainability of the DRR in Dagupan City and beyond. The assessment was attended by the captains for the eight project barangays, City Administrator Alvin Fernandez and members of the TWG, and CDP staff. Ms. Mariser Palencia, the consultant for the flood simulation exercise done in 2007, facilitated the assessment. The outcome of the assessment will be included in the terminal report.
  On July 29, 2008 the CDP and the TWG had a meeting regarding the extension of the project for another six months (till December 2008). The City of Dagupan took on the initiative of funding the training for the 23 barangays which will be done in the extension phase; CDP on the other hand will give technical advice for the TWG in doing the training and will help in providing IEC materials from PAGASA and PhiVOLCS. Activities for the extension include: conducting a refresher course on CBDM for trainers; developing a local CBDM module for Pangasinan; establishment of the EOC; and advanced training for rescue teams.
  CDP represented PROMISE-Philippines in several networking events: Disaster Management Orientation for Buklod ng Kabataan on July 6; UNICEF Child Protection in Emergencies meeting; meeting of education cluster to assist schools hit by Typhoon Halong, and the subsequent relief distribution.
   

• SRI-LANKA – The PROMISE-Sri Lanka project activities are finished as of July 31; the remaining tasks are the writing and submission of the final report The main activity for PROMISE-Sri Lanka in this month of July was the participation in the WGM-2 in Da Nang. The presentations of the Sri Lankan delegation were:

  • Mr. P. Dharmasena - Modeling Kalu River floods and Community Based Early

  • Ms. P. Mudalige - Sustainable Tomorrow - Micro Credit Scheme for Better Livelihood

  • Mayor MSM Mubarak - Partnership Development with Stakeholders for Long Term DRR

  • Mr. M. Wijesinghe - Community Mobilization in Implementing Mitigation Actions

  • Mainstreaming Disaster Risk Reduction In Local Governance – Sri Lanka

  • VIET NAM – CECI co-hosted the WGM-2 in Da Nang and assisted ADPC in the preparations. The presentations of the Vietnamese delegation were:

  • Ms. K. McLaughlin - Integrating Awareness Raising on Disaster Resistant Construction in Typhoon Recovery Projects- Da Nang

  • Mr. Truong Van Vy - Case Study on Community Awareness Raising

  • Ms. Nguyen Phuc Hoa - Participatory Disaster Preparedness Planning – Strengthening Local Government Planning Capacities

  • Mr. Phan Ngoc Nam - Improving Emergency Response – Da Nang Experience
    In addition, the Vietnamese government had the first session on “Experiences in Urban Disaster Risk Management, Vietnam” and gave the following presentations:

  • Mr. Tran Van Tuan - National Strategy for Natural Disaster Prevention, Response and Mitigation to 2020

  • Mr. Tran Anh Duc - Experiences of Danang in Disaster Mitigation and Responses – ‘Sang Sen’ Typhoon

  • Mr. Nguyen Duy Tu - Safely Living with Flood

  • Mr. Nguyen Trung Nhan - Natural Disaster Forecast

SPECIAL FOCUS ON PROMISE ACTIVITIES

The Program for Hydro-Meteorological Disaster Mitigation in Secondary Cities in Asia (PROMISE) held its Second Working Group Meeting (WGM-2) on 15-77 July 2008 at the Green Plaza Hotel, Da Nang, Viet Nam. The event was co-organized with the Government of Viet Nam (through the national Disaster Mitigation Partnership and the Central Committee for Flood and Storm Control) and Center for International Studies and Cooperation – Vietnam.
The sessions are as follows: 1) Experience in Urban Disaster Risk Management, Vietnam; 2) Technology Development and Transfer for DRR; 3) Practices for Mainstreaming DRR in Urban Development; 4) Networking and Partnership Development for Urban DRR; 5) Planning and Implementation Process for Urban DRR; 6) Governance and Urban DRR; and 7) Sustainability of Program Activities.
A field visit was made to the PROMISE-VN wards of Da Nang (in Cam Le district) to observe: 1) community-based emergency preparedness and flood disaster mitigation; 2) ward-level EOC set-up; 3) small-scale disaster mitigation projects; 4) demonstration of water-based search-and-rescue; and 5) the flood early warning system under the Da Nang Committee for Flood and Storm Control.
Participants came from: (1) the local governments of Chittagong, Da Nang, Dagupan, Hyderabad, Metro Jakarta and Kalutara; (2) from country partner organizations – Bangladesh Disaster Preparedness Centre, Center for International Studies and Cooperation – Vietnam, Center for Disaster Preparedness, Aga Khan Planning and Building Society – Pakistan, Bandung Institute of Technology, and Lanka Jathika Shramadana Sangamaya Sarvodaya; and from networking partners and other interested organizations – US Agency for International Development / US Office for Foreign Disaster Assistance, World Bank – Urban Development Sector, and Ove Arup & Partners, the Ministry for Disaster Management and Human Rights (SL), and the National Building Research Organization (SL).
The meeting documents can be found at: http://www.adpc.net/v2007/Programs/UDRM/PROMISE/MONITORING%20&%20EVALUATION/Working%20Group%20Meeting/2008/Default-Working%20Group%20Meeting2008.asp.

A. From the Region

(1) 1.5 million in Afghanistan affected by drought
(based on a report from IRIN)
At least 1.5 million people in 19 of Afghanistan's 34 provinces - mostly farming communities in the north - have been reported as severely affected by drought and are in need of urgent humanitarian relief. Ehsan Zia, minister of rural rehabilitation and development, told IRIN that about 1.5 million people have lost 70 to 80% of their livelihoods. Domestic cereal production is expected to fall to about 2.3 million tons from 4.6 million tons in 2007. People in the northern areas are also in dire need of drinking water as wells and springs have dried up. Water distribution is currently handled by tanker trucks visiting 508 villages. To mitigate the impact of drought and high food prices, the Afghan government and the UN have jointly appealed for over USD 404 million to provide an emergency safety-net to 4.5 million vulnerable people.

(2) Comprehensive Assessment of Cyclone Nargis Impact, July 21
(based on the press release by ASEAN, and reports from IRIN and Reuters)

The Post-Nargis Joint Assessment (PONJA) report estimates that cyclone Nargis left USD 4 billion worth of damage, that includes USD 1.7 billion in damage to physical assets. Survivors lost a combined USD 2.3 billion in income through the storm and accompanying tidal surge, which struck factories, swept away rice harvests, livestock and other valuable tools of production. About USD 1 billion would be needed over three years to help affected communities and households meet their needs for food, livelihoods, housing, education, and other support services. The report was released on July 21, and is a joint effort by the the Government of the Union of Myanmar, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the United Nations. To read the press release and download the report, please go to: http://www.aseansec.org/21765.htm.
 

B. Calls for Submission

(3) Call for Articles: Special Gender Issue of the International Journal of Mass Emergencies and Disasters
The International Journal of Mass Emergencies and Disasters is marking the 10-year anniversary of its first special gender issue with a second issue focusing on gender, to run March 2009. Those interested in submitting an article for this special issue can e-mail Rosalind Houghton at Victoria University of Wellington at Ros.Houghton@vuw.ac.nz  or David Johnston at Massey University/GNS Science at David.Johnston@gns.cri.nz.  Please respond by early August.

(4) Call for Submissions: 2008 EERI Annual Graphics Competitions
The Earthquake Engineering Research Institute Younger Members Committee is seeking submission for its Annual Graphics Competition encouraging innovative thinking in earthquake-related research. Examples of artwork include but are not limited to pictures, design graphs, mathematical concepts and formulae in graphical formats, logos, computer animations and simulations, and conceptual design. Submitted artwork must be related to earthquake science and engineering, earthquake causes, and consequences of earthquakes. Submission deadline is August 31. For more information and instructions on how to submit your electronic artwork, visit: http://www.eeri.org/cds_publications/newsletter/2008_pdf/2nd%20Annual%20Graphics%20Competition.pdf. 

C. Conferences and Courses

(5) 3rd Mainstreaming Disaster Risk Reduction in Local Governance – Manila, Philippines: 1 – 5 September 2008

Organizer: Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC). Formerly named the course “Governance and Disaster Risk Reduction,” the overall objective is to develop a cadre of local government professionals sensitive to issues presented by the recurrent hazards. The course intends to increase their knowledge, as well as of other stakeholders, on urban governance and disaster risk management to be responsive to the needs of vulnerability reduction, and to create opportunities for mainstreaming risk reduction as a component of urban governance. For inquiries, contact Mr. Falak Nawaz, tedadpc@adpc.net, or Mr. Amit Kumar, amit@adpc.net.

(6) 1st Regional Training Course on End-to-End Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems –Bangkok, Thailand: 15 – 26 September 2008
Organizer: Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC). The course offers to build the capacity of professionals to design, manage, evaluate and undertake improvements in people-centered end-to-end early warning systems for hydro-meteorological & geological hazards and extreme events associated with climate change and variability. It builds upon ADPC’s two decades of experience in disaster management, facilitating regional cooperation and building capacities of disaster management institutions at all government levels, disaster management practitioners and communities. It extends to institutionalizing weather and climate information applications for disaster mitigation and recently, in the implementation of Indian Ocean and South East Asia end-to-end early warning system for tsunami and hydro-meteorological hazards. For inquiries, contact Mr. Falak Nawaz, tedadpc@adpc.net, or Mr. Anup Karanth, anupkar@adpc.net. Download the brochure at: http://www.adpc.net/v2007/Programs/CRM/Downloads/2008/May/Regional%20Training%20Course%20on%20End-to-End%20Multi-hazard%20EWS.pdf.

(7) UN-SPIDER Workshop: Building Upon Regional Space-based Solutions for Disaster Management and Emergency Response for the Pacific Region – Suva, Fiji: 16 – 19 September 2008

The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA), through its UN-SPIDER Programme (United Nations Platform for Space-based Information for Disaster Management and Emergency Response), the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) through its ICT and disaster risk reduction programme and the Regional Space Applications Programme, and the Pacific Islands Applied Geoscience Commission (SOPAC) are organising the above regional workshop to contribute to helping countries within the Pacific region learn how to access and use space technology for disaster management and emergency response. Pplease contact Ms. Natercia Rodrigues for more information regarding the agenda, programme, funding or to send the completed application form: natercia.rodrigues@unoosa.org,  fax: (+43-1) 26060-5830. The deadline is Friday, 15 August 2008.

(8) 9th Regional Training Course on Flood Disaster Risk Management – Bangkok, Thailand: 6-17 October 2008

Organizer: Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC). The course is an integrated approach to developing flood risk reduction strategies that involve engineering, settlement, development, public administration, and community-based land use planning with environmental consideration. This multidisciplinary treatment of flood problems and flood risk management gives a holistic view of the situation and preparedness needs. Case examples of various national and local responses will be presented. For more information, please go to:
http://www.adpc.net/v2007/TRG/TRAINING%20COURSES/REGIONAL%20COURSES/2008/FDRM-9/FDRM-9.asp.

(9) 8th Regional Training Course on Earthquake Vulnerability Reduction for Cities – Bangkok, Thailand: 26 January – 6 February 2008

Organizer: Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC). The course is designed to impart greater understanding of the causes and effects of earthquake and collateral hazards, primarily focusing on mitigating such impacts in order to reduce damage and loss of lives with sustained development. The designed course is a blend of principles, concepts, case studies and hands-on experience of seismic risk reduction strategies. Please contact: Mr. Falak Nawaz, ADPC, +66 2 516 5900 to 10, Ext 330, email: falak@adpc.net, tedadpc@adpc.net. Further information and the application form are available at the following link: http://www.adpc.net/v2007/TRG/TRAINING%20COURSES/Special%20Courses/2009/EVRC-8/Default-EVRC-8.asp.

D. Useful Resources

(10) Safer Cities 21: Community Empowerment and Disaster Risk Reduction in Chittagong City, Kumar, 2008

ADPC, through the Program for Hydro-Meteorological Disaster Mitigation in Secondary Cities in Asia (PROMISE), published this latest case study in the Safer Cities series. The case study of Chittagong City highlights how to build up community ownership in responding to the existing hydro-meteorological hazards in the most vulnerable wards. To download, please go to: http://www.adpc.net/v2007/Programs/UDRM/PROMISE/INFORMATION%20RESOURCES/Safer%20Cities/Downloads/SaferCities21.pdf.

(11) 3rd Issue of Strengthening Community-Based Approaches to Management of Avian and Human Influenza (AHI) in Asia, ADPC, July 2008

Asian Disaster Preparedness Centre (ADPC), CARE, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and the International Rescue Committee (IRC) have released the latest newsletter of its joint project. This issue focuses on the following: 1) Resource Kit for Community-based Management of AHI entitled: Communities Respond: Experience Sharing in Community-based Management of AHI in Asia; 2) Cross-Border Study Tour: Bio- Security and Sustainable Livelihoods in Cambodia; 3) National Study Tour: Ensuring Safe & Sustainable Small-Scale Poultry and Livestock Raising among Vulnerable Communities in Vietnam; and 4) Project News and Events. To access the current and past issues, please go to: http://www.adpc.net/communityAHI-Asia/NEWSLETTER/Default-NEWSLETTER.asp.

(12) Online Resources Series on Natural Hazards
This new section is a focus on online resources on the hazards that are of special interest for urban disaster management. The hazards that will be featured are (in order): tropical cyclones (a.k.a. cyclone, typhoon and hurricane), drought, flood, landslide, earthquake and technological hazards. Here is a list of online resources on tropical cyclones:

• EM-Dat storm disaster profile database access page: http://www.emdat.be/Database/DisasterProfile/profile_disasters.php?disgroup=natural&period=1900%242008&dis_type=Storm&Submit=Display+Disaster+Profile

• HEWS storm tracker: http://www.hewsweb.org/storms/

• PDC Vulnerability Atlas, Asia Pacific edition: http://www.pdc.org/atlas/html/atlas-init.jsp

• SAARC brief on cyclones: http://saarc-sdmc.nic.in/cyclone.asp 

• TSR storm tracker: http://www.tropicalstormrisk.com/tracker/dynamic/main.html

• US Joint Typhoon Warning Center alert page: http://metocph.nmci.navy.mil/jtwc.php

• WMO Tropical Cyclones Programme homepage: http://www.wmo.int/pages/prog/www/tcp/index_en.html

• TSR publications: http://www.tropicalstormrisk.com/public.html 

• ADPC. Safer Cities 19: “Promoting Safer Housing Construction through CBDRM: Community-designed Safe Housing in Post-Xangsane Da Nang City,” November, 2007: http://www.adpc.net/v2007/Programs/UDRM/PROMISE/INFORMATION%20RESOURCES/Safer%20Cities/Downloads/SaferCities19.pdf 

• ADPC. “Workshop on Safer Shelter in Vietnam,” proceedings. Hanoi, Vietnam: 4 to 5 September 2002: http://www.adpc.net/AUDMP/library/proceedings/vn1.pdf 

• UNESCO. “Typhoon-Resistant School Buildings for Viet Nam,” mission report, Bangkok, July 1987: http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0012/001206/120616eo.pdf