It is expected to participate 60 participants representing the senior management of CRC, department heads of CRC and branch managers of CRC from seven most vulnerable provinces to floods, Red cross volunteers, stakeholder institutions (Oxfam, Church World Service, AusAid, ADPC, USAID/OFDA) and representatives of the National Committee of Disaster management (NCDM) of Royal Cambodian Government.

Sri Lanka's National Course on Natural Disaster Mitigation (NDM-1/SLIDA), 27 November to 2 December 2000

The Sri Lanka Institute of Development Administration (SLIDA) in collaboration with ADPC is holding the first national training course on Natural Disaster Mitigation (NDM-1) for senior and middle level administrators from the public sector institutions at national, provincial, district and divisional levels, on 27 November to 2 December 2000.

The course aims to enhance the capacity of national and sub-national institutions of the public sector that are involved in reducing and managing the risk from natural hazards, by introducing hazard mitigation techniques in strategic planning and administrative practices.

This is an activity under ADPC's Asian Urban Disaster Mitigation Program (AUDMP). The training component of AUDMP aims to further institutionalize disaster mitigation practices, by using a "train the trainers" approach regionally and in-country for passing on technical skills and knowledge. Generic training curricula is developed on a range of mitigation strategies for different hazards in urban areas which are then adapted to suit local needs. At the national level, the training courses are offered by national partner training institutions (NPTIs).

A network of Asian disaster mitigation training institutions (or ADMIT) was created under the AUDMP in 1999 to serve as an institutional framework beyond the life of AUDMP so that AUDMP-initiated courses will continue to be conducted and improved. In Sri Lanka, there are two official members of ADMIT - (1) SLIDA who is currently conducting NDM-1 and (2) CHPB (the Centre for Housing, Planning and Building) who has already conducted two Natural Disaster Mitigation courses in Sri Lanka in October 1999 and March 2000.

While the SLIDA course targets administrators, courses conducted by CHPB are aimed at a technical group, such as engineers, planners and architects. A third course by CHPB is scheduled for next year.

AUDMP Core Group Meeting held in Bangkok during 30-31 October 2000

The Asian Urban Disaster Mitigation Program's (AUDMP) Core Group Meeting (CGM) was held at the ADPC, Bangkok, during 30-31 October 2000 to review the progress of AUDMP.

The meeting was attended by the AUDMP Core Group members from Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in Washington, USA, and its regional offices in Philippines and Nepal; and Regional Urban Development Office (RUDO) of the USAID in India.

From OFDA/USAID, Mr. Thomas Brennan, Senior Regional Advisor based in Philippines, Ms. Stephanie Fritz, Regional Coordinator for Asia and the Pacific based in Washington, USA and Mr. Bill Berger, Regional Advisor based in Nepal, attended the meeting. From RUDO/SA, Mr. James Stein, Director and Mr. A.S. Dasgupta, Project Management Specialist participated in the meeting. Ms. Stephanie Wilcock from Urban Programs Office of USAID in Washington also joined the meeting.

Dr. Suvit Yodmani, Executive Director of ADPC and other senior staff members of ADPC also took part in the discussions during the meeting.

In addition to reviewing the national demonstration projects and progress of the other two components, viz. Training, Resource Materials and Continuing Education (TRMCE) and Information and Networking, the Core Group also discussed the progress on expansion of the AUDMP to Thailand and Vietnam.

Please click here to see the Photographs.

Foundation training for CARE and Partner NGO Project Staff of the Bangladesh Urban Disaster Mitigation Project (4-12 October 2000)

Bangladesh Urban Disaster Mitigation Project (BUDMP) in collaboration with ADPC conducted a Foundation Training for key officials involved in implementation of BUDMP. The training was conducted in Gaibanda during the period from 4- 12 October 2000. The staff members associated with the project from both Tongi and Gaibanda municipalities and representatives from each of the partners NGOs (GUK and Association of Rural Development) participated in the training. Both Tongi and Gaibanda municipalities are sites for national demonstration project in Bangladesh.

The training modules were prepared by CARE-DMP training division to fulfill the needs of the project staff for execution of activities under BUDMP. The training facilitated deeper understanding on the subject matters, such as concepts of disaster management , community based approaches to hazard ,vulnerability and risk assessment , PRA mapping tools and techniques, disaster mitigation, etc. The participants were given basic training on the adult learning methods, participatory training methods ,teaching techniques, etc. in order to improve the TOT skills of project staff and key partners in implementation of project activities.

In addition, the ADPC staff presented the approaches and strategies adopted by other AUDMP project partners in implementation of country projects. Emphasis was given on the community based approaches adopted by the Cambodian Community based Flood mitigation Project under AUDMP.

Earthquake Resistant Building Training in Indonesia (13-16 September 2000)

After a major earthquake struck the city of Bengkulu in Indonesia a few months ago, AUDMP partner institution in Indonesia, Institute of Technology Bandung (ITB) has initiated collaboration with the City for a seismic risk awareness and earthquake resistant building program.

On 11-12 September 2000, a workshop on Seismic Risks and Earthquake Resistant Buildings in Bengkulu is being organized to increase the awareness of the decision makers of the seismic risks in Bengkulu and the steps to reduce them. A four-day training for the Rehabilitation and Retrofitting of Buildings Damaged by the Earthquake is being organized during 13-16 September for technical personnel to provide counseling on the techniques of rehabilitation of buildings damaged by the earthquake.

To complement the disaster mitigation effort under AUDMP in Bengkulu, ITB has leveraged funds from the UN Center for Regional Development (UNCRD). The UNCRD program will focus on safety against earthquake for school.

Launch of the Replication Phase of the Creating Safer Communities Project in Sri Lanka

The Creating Safer Communities: Sri Lanka Urban Multi-hazard Disaster Mitigation Project, one of the eight country-level projects under AUDMP, has successfully completed its demonstration phase in Ratnapura and Nawalapitiya, and has started the replication phase on June 1, 2000.

In the replication phase, the new project phase will disseminate the experiences from the demonstration phase to Colombo Municipal Corporation and the cities along the Kelani River, where flooding is an annual phenomenon. Flood zonation mapping, review of existing control procedures, and development of action plans are some of the planned activities for these cities.

Construction guidelines in disaster prone areas will be converted into national building codes. A provincial disaster management act will be drafted and enacted for implementation of disaster management activities and emergency management and response plan in Sabaragamuwa Province, an expansion from Ratnapura. A city disaster mitigation action plan and an emergency response plan was developed in Ratnapura during the demonstration phase.

Ratnapura established a disaster management steering committee and the committee has proved valuable in helping the city implement important mitigation actions. For example, a river crossing was constructed where annual flooding caused communication problems in the community, and a new inter-city bus terminal was constructed to replace the old one which faced flooding every year.

The Natural Disaster Mitigation (NDM) training course and training for craftsmen will be institutionalized in the Center for Housing Planning and Building (CHPB) during the replication phase. CHPB has adapted the AUDMP regional urban disaster mitigation course into a national program, and public awareness workshops were conducted for journalists and teachers in the demonstration phase.

Also, in the demonstration phase, the National Building Research Organization (NBRO), one of the three project implementing organizations, established a rapid assessment method for landslide hazard zonation for preparation of the hazard maps. A methodology was developed for integration of natural disaster risk information in urban physical planning process and this has become a directive under the national urban development authority for inclusion in all programs.

Advocates for Disaster Mitigation with Indonesian Parliament

One best way to advocate for disaster mitigation in a country is to gain the support from the parliament members. On July 18, Dr. Harkunti Pertiwi Rahayu, the Information Manager of the Indonesian Urban Disaster Mitigation Project under AUDMP, was requested by the Ministry of Research and Technology to make a presentation on earthquake disaster mitigation to the Indonesian National Parliament. It was broadcast on the national television. With earthquake occurring more frequently in Indonesia, disaster mitigation has received increased attention as a result.

The Second Urban Disaster Mitigation Course held in Vientiane, Lao PDR (18 - 21 July 2000)

A four-day course on Urban Disaster Mitigation was held in Vientiane during 18 - 21 July 2000. The course was a part of the Advanced Urban Planning and Management (AUPM) training program organized by the Urban Research Institute (URI) in Lao PDR with funds from the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

The course curriculum developed by AUDMP/ADPC aimed at developing better understanding of the disaster mitigation and management concepts and issues also included desk exercises and field visits for the participants from various government agencies.

The resource persons from ADPC included Mr. Mohezin Tejani, Training Manager; Ms. Lita Garcia, PEER Program Manager; Mr. N.M.S.I Arambepola, AUDMP Project Manager; and Mr. Tian Feng, Training Coordinator. We also involved the National Disaster Management Office; the Lao PDR Fire Department; participants from the course; and Ms. Angelika Planitz from CONCERN Worldwide, as resource persons for the course, as a way of sharing their experiences on fire safety, landslides and flood issues.

Evaluations and feedback from participants and URI staff indicate a high level of satisfaction along with suggestions to extend the course to a full week in the future.

Click here for more details of the course.

Focus on the Poor: Long-Term Disaster Management in Bangladesh (20 -21 June 2000 in Dhaka, Bangladesh)

 

The Government of Bangladesh and the World Bank are hosting an international conference entitled "Focus on the Poor: Long-Term Disaster Management in Bangladesh" on 20 -21 June 2000 in Dhaka, Bangladesh, with co-sponsorship from ADPC. Other co-sponsors include the Public-Private Partnership Infrastructure Advisory Group (PPIAF), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the World Conservation Union (IUCN). The conference will focus on community-based mechanisms for disaster mitigation and the role of the private sector, specifically microfinance institutions in providing such mitigation. ADPC will be sponsoring a workshop to showcase community-based initiatives in disaster mitigation and management in Bangladesh and other parts of Asia. For the past 5 years in particular, ADPC has been actively involved in community-based approaches to disaster mitigation (CBDM) and this conference provides an opportunity for ADPC to present ADPC's community projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Nepal and the Philippines. For the draft agenda of the conference, please click here.

Urban Disaster Mitigation Course held in Vientiane, Lao PDR (28-30 March 2000)

A three-day course on Urban Disaster Mitigation Course was held in Vientiane during 28-30 March 2000.  The course was a part of the Advanced Urban Planning and Management (AUPM) training program organized by the Urban Research Institute (URI) in Lao PDR with funds from Asian Development Bank (ADB).

The course curriculum developed by AUDMP/ADPC aimed at developing better understanding of the concepts and issues introduced and discussed during the lectures, also included desk exercises and field visits for the participants from various government agencies.  The participants included civil engineers and architects from the Department of Communication, Transport, Post and Construction from various provinces and also from Department of Housing and Urban Planning.  Staff members of Fire Service in Vientiane, the Lao Red Cross and the National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) also attended the course.

Click here for more details of the course.

Second Natural Disaster Mitigation (NDM) Course held in Sri Lanka during 13-18 March 2000 under Sri Lanka Urban Multi Hazard Disaster Mitigation Project (SLUMDMP)

Twenty one participants attended a six-day course on Natural Disaster Mitigation (NDM) organized by SLUMDMP in collaboration with Center for Housing Planning and Building (CHPB), in Sunil Mawatha, Battaramula, Sri Lanka, during 13-18 March, 2000.

This NDM course, which is a national course, is adopted to suit the natural disaster environment in Sri Lanka. The course is designed in line with the Urban Disaster Mitigation (UDM) regional course developed and conducted by ADPC.

This course conducted for the second time in Sri Lanka, was this time organized with a partial sponsorship from Duryog Nivaran Network of the Intermediate Technology Development Group - an international NGO actively involved in disaster management activities in Sri Lanka.

The organizations participating in this course were planning departments such as Urban Development Authority, Department of Town and Country Planning; service agencies such as National Water Supply and Drainage Board, Air Force, Road Development Authority; Government Departments such as irrigation department, Building Department, Forest and Wildlife Department; Colombo Municipality; National Building Research Organization (NBRO); Sri Lanka Institute of Development Administration (SLIDA), and Center for Housing Planning Building (CHPB).

The participants were mostly technocrats and planners working in the areas of urban planning. In the next course which is going to be organized shortly by SLIDA, it is targeted to train managers and administrators. 

Click here to see photographs from the NDM course.

Bangladesh Urban Disaster Mitigation Project (BUDMP) Launched on 1 March 2000

The Bangladesh Urban Disaster Mitigation Project (BUDMP), the latest country project under AUDMP was launched in the month of March 2000.  The BUDMP is expected to explore methods to reduce the vulnerability of urban population to floods in two secondary cities in Bangladesh; namely Tongi and Gaibandagh, which are regularly affected by floods .The BUDMP will undertake various structural as well as non-structural measures that can be implemented through a community based approach for flood Mitigation and replicated to other flood prone areas in the country.

The AUDMP project team from ADPC was involved in  a series of activities  in Bangladesh connected to  launching of the new AUDMP country project -BUDMP during the period  26-31 March 2000.  The process planning work for BUDMP was carried out through a series of consultative committee meetings between the ADPC and the project partners from DMP-CARE Bangladesh, with participation of other stakeholders such as, Disaster Management Bureau (DMB), Municipalities, partner NGOs etc.

As in the other country projects, the Phase I of BUDMP will focus on demonstration project activities in two cities which involve activities like hazard and vulnerability analyses, institutional capacity building, networking, mobilizing the communities in disaster mitigation activities, etc. The project activities will be enhanced through integration of other country project experience in selected areas of operations.

5th AUDMP Working Group Meeting held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia (23-25 February 2000)

The 5th Working Group Meeting was held in Phnom Penh during 23-25 February 2000. The project managers from all the countries participated in the meeting.  The theme of this year's meeting was "replication". Madame Bun Rany Hun Sen, President of Cambodian Red Cross (CRC), inaugurated the meeting on 23 February 2000.  For more details about the meeting, please click here.