Asian Disaster Mitigation Training Network (ADMIT)

Upon requests from various partner organizations, ADPC has initiated steps towards reactivating the Asian Disaster Mitigation Training Network. ADMIT was formed in 1999 with ten training organizations from India, Indonesia, Nepal, the Philippines and Sri Lanka. The purpose of the network is to share information and resources on disaster management training with national organizations in countries of the Asian region. A website and an email-based electronic forum facilitates this sharing among network members. The ADMIT website provides a platform for exchanging a variety of information and resources such as international training opportunities for staff of partner organizations, funding sources for training, training manuals, PowerPoint presentations on different disaster management topics, and contacts of disaster management training organizations, their training calendars and information about them. To benefit from and contribute to this vital regional network, please contact Mr Zubair Murshed, Training Manager, at mzubair@ait.ac.th. The ADMIT website is at http://www.adpc.ait.ac.th/audmp/admit/default.html 

Incorporation of Urban Disaster Mitigation Concepts into University Syllabuses

A workshop of nine universities from India, Indonesia, Nepal, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam was held from 1-2 July at ADPC. The participating universities agreed that urban populations face increased risks of disasters due to their higher vulnerability levels and unplanned urbanization. They expressed interest in incorporating concepts of urban disaster mitigation into their existing course syllabuses. Some are planning to design and offer full-fledged courses on urban disaster mitigation. The teaching of these concepts to future urban planners, administrators and architects will help make Asian cities safer through better management of urban settlements. ADPC will provide assistance to the universities in curriculum design, adaptation and offering of courses. If your institution is interested in this venture, please contact Mr Zubair Murshed, Training Manager, at mzubair@ait.ac.th 

Orientation on CBDM for Thai Red Cross

The Thai Red Cross (TRC) will implement community-based disaster risk management projects in two selected communities. The ADPC, as a partner in this venture, will provide support for training of the TRC on participatory project planning, identification of communities and the conduct of community risk assessment. This initiative is the result of a two-day orientation session for TRC staff by ADPC. The seminar was held from 5-6 September at the TRC campus, with participation by forty health coordinators from different parts of the country. The participants appreciated the community-based approach to disaster risk management and thus committed to promote it in their program areas. Once started, the project will be the first of its kind in Thailand.

Third Regional Training Course on Flood Risk Management (FRM-3)

Flood disasters, experienced in most Asian countries, are perhaps the most damaging of all hazards, causing destruction to people’s lives and property. Even though efforts in flood disaster mitigation have been strengthened, the impacts of floods have not reduced. The Third Flood Risk Management (FRM-3) Course was held from 16-27 September 2002 in Bangkok, Thailand. It offered an integrated approach to develop flood risk reduction strategies that involves multi-disciplinary approaches to flood hazards. Using lessons learned from both successful and failed experiences with structural, non-structural and less-structural strategies, the course enabled participants to understand and analyze causative factors and create recommendations appropriate to their respective country’s flood situation. With the support of USAID and OFDA, through the Asian Urban Disaster Mitigation Program (AUDMP), the FRM-3 Course welcomed participants from Bangladesh, Cambodia, Fiji, Madagascar, Malaysia, Lao PDR, Thailand and Vietnam.

Special Course for the Beijing Civil Affairs Bureau

A special course on Disaster Management and Social Relief for officials of the Beijing Civil Affairs Bureau (BCAB) was held from 24-28 June 2002 in Bangkok. The course was attended by 20 BCAB participants and was followed by a study tour to Sri Lanka from 1-4 July 2002. 

This course was specially designed for the officials of BCAB, incorporating comments from former Chinese participants, conducting a training needs assessment and including visits by ADPC staff to China. The course included new topics such as responding to sandstorms, environmental health, water and sanitation, preparedness planning, command and control centers, management of international assistance, emergency response in the USA, disasters and development, and new trends in disaster management. During the training, participants visited the office of the Thai Red Cross (TRC) and its stockpiles of disaster relief. They also visited a senior citizens center in Bangkok. 

Participants at the gem mines in Ratnapura, Sri Lanka

Following the course, a study tour was arranged in Sri Lanka from 1-4 July 2002. Sri Lanka is one country where ADPC has been implementing a project under the Asian Urban Disaster Mitigation Program (AUDMP). Sri Lanka’s Center for Housing, Planning and Building (CHPB), Sri Lanka Urban Multi Hazard Disaster Mitigation Project (SLUMDMP), the AUDMP project partner organization, coordinated and organized the study tour. The Chinese officials visited Ratnapura and Kandy, relevant government agencies at national and local levels, NGOs and a famous university in Sri Lanka, the University of Peradeniya. They were impressed by the presentations made by Sri Lankan colleagues and the level of sensitivity to disasters of the country’s governing officials. Among the officials visited were Dr David Ratnavale, Chairman of the Human Disaster Management Council of the President’s Office of Sri Lanka. Other places visited were the Bandaranaike Museum in Colombo, built by the Chinese government in the 1970s, flood-prone areas in Ratnapura, the SLUMDMP demonstration city, and the gem mining area in Ratnapura, which experiences land subsidence.

The Chinese officials reported that they learned a lot from the experiences of Sri Lanka. They also expressed their sincere appreciation to the Sri Lankan team under the leadership of Mr Lionel Hewawasam, Deputy Director of CHPB, and the supervision of the CHPB Director, Ms Geethi Karunaratne, who kindly assisted and guided the delegation during the study tour in Sri Lanka.