Last updated: 08 October, 2008    

Disaster Mitigation in Asia
Issue No. 7 
31 October 2003

A. From the Region
B. Calls for Submission 
C. Conferences & Courses
D. Useful Resources

FROM THE REGION

Strategy Asia 2020 for Urban Disaster Risk Management in Asia

Recognizing the great challenges brought about by the rapid growth of urbanization in Asia, which subsequently led to an increased vulnerability of the urban population and infrastructure to disaster impact, the Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC) has continually strengthened its efforts of reducing disaster risks by continuously building up the physical, social and economic capacity of communities and institutions in disaster-prone areas.

As a vital step towards this endeavor, the Urban Disaster Risk Management
(UDRM) Team of ADPC laid out its vision for the next two decades. Strategy Asia 2020 focuses on the expansion of ADPC's geographical network and facilitation of collaborative actions for a safer Asia. In its recently published promotional information material, the Team clearly defines its targets and strategies on how to go about attaining its mission, "helping to make Asian cities safer before the next disaster".

With Strategy Asia 2020, ADPC UDRM Team targets expansion of activities under the following sub-themes:

• Planning and building safer cities: a comprehensive approach
• Emergency management and response planning for cities: a multi-sectoral approach
• Public awareness campaigns: a partnership approach
• Knowledge development and capacity building: a holistic approach

For more details about UDRM, please visit <http://www.adpc.net/udrm/>
or write to <audmp@adpc.net>.

Two studies conducted on the Sri Lanka Urban Multi-Hazard Disaster Mitigation Project (SLUMDMP)

The major flood of May 2003 in Sri Lanka had seriously affected many lives and properties of several municipalities, including Ratnapura, one of the SLUMDMP demonstration sites. This event prompted the Asian Urban Disaster Mitigation Program (AUDMP) team at ADPC to initiate the conduct of evaluative studies based on the implementation of the project. In collaboration with the local partners in Sri Lanka, namely, Centre for Housing Planning and Building (CHPB), National Building Research Organization (NBRO) and Urban Development Authority (UDA), two studies had been carried out.

Some of the significant lessons learned from the studies were outlined as follows:

• Risk-based urban land use and action planning should be widely introduced
  Disaster mitigation actions undertaken during the project implementation should be continued/sustained.
• Government intervention is needed to replicate the good practices
• Awareness building/capacity building at various levels should lead to a proper risk communication strategy so that attitude changes can be expected from those beneficiaries

As a follow-up action, the outcome of both studies will be presented for deliberation and discussion in a Workshop on 4 November 2003 organized by AUDMP in collaboration with the USAID-Colombo mission. This event will provide an avenue for facilitating constructive discussions by the disaster management stakeholder community to analyse various aspects of the problems.

For more information, please email <audmp@adpc.net>.

Earthquake Scenario and Risk Management Action Planning Workshop conducted under the KVERMP in Nepal

An Earthquake Scenario and Risk Management Action Planning Workshop was jointly organized by the Banepa Municipality, NSET-Nepal and ADPC on 24 October 2003 in Nepal. Under the Kathmandu Valley Earthquake Risk Management Project (KVERMP), the Municipality action planning workshop was conducted to present the earthquake scenario and to discuss the action plans for future activities. Mayors and government officials of various municipalities, together with the representatives from several CBOs, journalists, government servants within the municipality, contractors, and artisans attended and actively participated in the workshop. The main discussion was focused on:

• presentation of the earthquake scenario
• action plan for reduction of vulnerability
• roles and responsibilities of different stakeholders

The participants suggested some measures for future consideration:

• Safer building and construction in the future
• Strengthening of the historical structures and school buildings
• Private initiatives for building safety measures
• Capacity-building
• Public awareness for better preparedness

For more information, please email <audmp@adpc.net>.

Announcement of Recipients of the 2003 United Nations Sasakawa Award for Disaster Reduction

This year, the 2003 Laureate and 6 recipients of Certificates of Distinction and Merit for the UN Sasakawa Award for Disaster Reduction were announced on 8 October, the International Day for Disaster Reduction. Their names and a brief description of their achievements appear below.

In recognition of innovative efforts and outstanding initiatives in reducing the risks and vulnerabilities of communities to natural hazards, the United Nations Sasakawa Award for Disaster Reduction was established in 1986 by founding Chairman of the Nippon Foundation, Mr. Ryoichi Sasakawa, and have been awarded to deserving candidates annually.

To access the press release and further information on the UN Sasakawa Award for Disaster Reduction, please visit <http://www.unisdr.org>.

Asia-Pacific Regional Forum of Cities and Local Governments in the Information Society, Shanghai, 29-31 October 2003

The Regional Forum was organized around six themes, viz. e-governance, e-inclusion, e-administration, e-education, e-economy and e-health. The participating cities presented their case studies on use of IT around the themes of the Forum. The mayors and senior officials of the participating cities attended the Forum.

The Forum was organized by CityNet in partnership with WSIS, WACLAC (World Association for Cities and Local Authorities Coordination), IT4ALL, UNITAR (United Nations Institute for Training and Research) and hosted by the City of Shanghai.

The Forum concluded by adopting a Declaration and Action Plan which will be presented at the World Summit of Cities and Local Authorities on the Information Society in Lyon during 4-5 December 2003.

The ADPC shared its experiences at the Forum from its Asian Urban Disaster Mitigation Program in building disaster resilient information societies in Asia.

For more information about the Summit, please visit
<http://www.cities-lyon.org>.

Next Page

This e-newsletter is sent to almost 2,000 subscribers.

Disaster Mitigation in Asia is a moderated electronic newsletter provided by the Asian Disaster Preparedness Center for sharing updates on disaster mitigation in Asia that includes latest information sources and analytical accounts of new approaches, methodologies, models, resources and tools for disaster risk reduction. This e-newsletter will also provide updates on projects, conferences, training courses and workshops in the Asian Disaster Preparedness Center, Asia and worldwide.

Questions for the readership, responses and contributions to this e-newsletter are encouraged. Items received will be posted in the next issue with editing, if required. Please send your contributions to: <audmp@adpc.net>

To subscribe to this group, send a blank email to: <adpc-announce-subscribe@yahoogroups.com>

To unsubscribe from this group, send a blank email to: <adpc-announce-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com>

For back issues of Disaster Mitigation in Asia please visit: <http://www.adpc.net/audmp/e-news/default.html> 
or <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/adpc-announce/messages>

For additional information, please contact ADPC at:

P.O. Box 4 Klong Luang, Pathumthani 1210, Thailand
Tel: (662) 516 5900 to 10
Fax: (662) 524 5350
E-mail: <audmp@adpc.net> (effective as of 15 February 2003)
URL: <http://www.adpc.net> (effective as of 15 February 2003)

The opinions expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Asian Disaster Preparedness Center. The Asian Disaster Preparedness Center is not responsible for accuracy of information expressed herein.

Unless stated otherwise articles may be copied or quoted without restriction, provided the Asian Disaster Preparedness Center and the original author(s) and institution(s) are acknowledged.

Copyright 2003 ADPC.