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Catastrophe Risk Assessment Study: World Bank's
Asian Initiative
The
World Bank late last year (2002) undertook a study on “Catastrophe Risk
Assessment” in India as part of its ongoing regional initiative for risk
transfer in Asia. The study was awarded to RMSI, a global IT services
company.
The purpose
of this World Bank initiative was: (i) to assess the financial risks of
natural hazards including the exposures and vulnerabilities of countries in
this region to catastrophic shocks; (ii) to evaluate the existing post
disaster funding mechanisms in the region, including catastrophe insurance
and reinsurance arrangements; and (iii) to explore methods of funding the
direct costs of natural disasters outside the national budget.
As a pilot
project four Indian states: Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Orissa
were identified for undertaking a comprehensive risk assessment study for
the assets of housing and public infrastructure against natural
catastrophes, like cyclones, earthquakes and floods.
Several
probabilistic risk models for hazard assessment, vulnerability analysis and
financial implications were developed as part of the study. RMSI has
submitted a comprehensive report to the World Bank, which consists of
various results that help decision-making, such as exposure value, average
annual loss (AAL), probable maximum loss (PML), exceeding probability (EP)
loss curves and hazard/risk mapping. The findings are expected to serve as
key inputs for further studies related to the transfer and financing of
catastrophe risk in India.
RMSI is a
global IT services company providing Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
and spatial solutions, application software services and catastrophe risk
management solutions to clients worldwide. RMSI has exceptional domain
knowledge in the spatial, engineering, insurance, media, and telecom
industries. For more information, visit
www.rmsi.com
Widespread replication of
CBDM practice needed in
the Philippines
The Philippines
held its First National Conference on Community Based Disaster
Management (CBDM) from January 28 – 30 2003. The Conference was
jointly organized by the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC)
– Office of Civil Defense and National
Defense
College of the Philippines with the Philippine Disaster Management
Forum. Eighty-two delegates from national and local government
agencies, NGOs, community organizations and the academe participated
to share experiences and good practices and address urgent
challenges in the implementation of CBDM. Marking the significance
of the activity, key officials of the Department of National Defense
(DND) as the Chair of the NDCC were in attendance, with no less than
Undersecretary Eduardo Batenga giving the keynote address for the
opening while DND Secretary Angelo T. Reyes presided over the
closing ceremony.
The conference
workshop was divided into the following four themes:
Theme 1 The
Philippine Disaster Situation and Disaster Management System: How
Has CBDM Fared in the Country?
Theme 2:
Frameworks, Models, Tools and Operational Issues in CBDM: What Can
We Learn from Good Practices and From One Another?
Theme 3: Enhancing
Policy and Institutional Framework: How to Sustain, Replicate and
Institutionalize CBDM?
Theme 4: Ways
Forward and Recommendations: Where Do We Want to Go?
Despite the
dichotomy in the approaches and perspectives of the government and
NGOs in CBDM practice, the Conference called for the widespread
replication of CBDM good practices beyond the piloting stage. Major
beneficial impacts noted include zero-casualty due to community
preparedness, enhanced community-LGU-NGO coordination, efficient
disaster response, optimum utilization of resources, and
strengthened communities. Key problems to address include focus on
natural hazards and limited attention on conflict, lack of resources
for preparedness and mitigation at the community and local level,
difference in approaches in CBDM, limited people’s involvement in
disaster management planning, and the feeling of discouragement.
Key recommendations
made by the participants for CBDM were:
a. Unified
and purposive lobbying for enabling legislation on CBDM
b.
Use of 25% of the
5% Local Calamity Fund allocation funds for pre-disaster
activities
c. Institutionalize Disaster
Management Office at all levels of government
d.
Power to the local
officials to declare state of calamity
e.
Integration of DM
in development planning
f.
Take advantage of
relief as entry point for developmental interventions
g.
Inclusion of DM in
the school curriculum
h.
Research,
training, sharing of information and experiences in CBDM
i.
Enhance
coordination, cooperation, partnerships and volunteerism
j. Media
and donor education
k.
Come up with
appropriate standards for relief packs, evacuation centers, etc.
l.
Code of Ethics
among DM practitioners: Do no harm
m.
Respect for and
strengthen existing community coping mechanism and
structures
n.
Disaster responses
should be based on damage and risk assessments
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