Last updated: 15 September, 2008    

Disaster Mitigation in Asia
Issue No. 2 
31 March 2003

A. From the Region
B. Grants and Scholarships
C. Conferences & Courses
D. Useful Resources

FROM THE REGION

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 purpose of this World Bank initiative was to: (i) assess the financial risks of natural hazards including the exposures and vulnerabilities of countries in this region to catastrophic shocks; (ii) evaluate the existing post disaster funding mechanisms in the region, including catastrophe insurance and reinsurance arrangements; and (iii) 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. The findings of the study are expected to serve as key inputs for further studies related to the transfer and financing of catastrophe risk in India.

The study was awarded to RMSI, a global IT services company providing Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and spatial solutions, application software services and catastrophe risk management solutions to clients worldwide.

For more information, visit <http://www.rmsi.com> or email Mr. Adityam Krovvidi <Adityam.Krovvidi@rmsi.com>

Cyclone Preparedness Program, Bangladesh

After the devastating cyclone of 1970 which took half a million lives, the United Nations requested the League of Red Cross (now the International Federation) to undertake a leading role in pre-disaster planning for the country, and in 1972, the Cyclone Preparedness Program (CPP) of Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (BDRCS) was formed. In June 1973, the Government of Bangladesh undertook the financial responsibility for some of the program's recurring expenses, setting up a program management mechanism by creating a Policy Committee and Implementation Board.

CPP relies on technical skills and volunteers' commitment to ensure that potential victims of an approaching cyclone are given sufficient warning, enabling them to move to safe-sites. Meteorological data is collected from the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD), which issues regular bulletins that are transmitted to various parts of the country using high frequency (HF) and very high frequency (VHF) radios.

The government provides 14,500,000 Takas (US$250,000) annually to meet the programme's costs. The BDRCS provides capital assets and operational costs, including telecommunication, warning equipment, transport and volunteers' training costs. To generate more funds for other activities, CPP volunteers independently created the "CPP Development Fund." The CPP development fund now totals 1,345,000 Takas.

CPP has completed 30 years in Bangladesh and has proved to be one of the most effective programs in protecting people's lives. The role of CPP volunteers in cyclonic disasters has been acclaimed internationally too. In 1998, CPP was awarded the "Smith Tumsaroch Award" by Thailand for its outstanding efforts to protect people living in high-risk areas.

For more information, email Mr. Fazlul Wahab <cpp@bdmail.net>

Lending a helping hand for Safer Houses, Vietnam

Over the past decade, Vietnam has emerged from years of poverty. Among the many changes, a tangible change has been the increase in private expenditure in housing and small-scale rural infrastructure. Families have rebuilt a vast percentage of rural housing in recent years to replace previous thatch and bamboo houses. Regrettably, this investment in new homes has not been matched by a parallel increase in their resistance to the effects of floods and storms. This weakness is largely because storm-resistant building details have been neglected.

Identifying the need for reducing vulnerability of housing and infrastructure, Development Workshop France (DWF) has implemented projects in Thua Thien Hue Province, central Vietnam, since 1999, to raise the prevention awareness among the population and decision makers, through animation, training and demonstration of housing and small public facilities reinforcement.

In addition, DWF initiated a credit system for housing reinforcement. This experience has demonstrated that people repay short-term affordable loans for house strengthening even though this does not have a direct connection to income generation. This is because the safety of the houses and reducing vulnerability represent a key component in economic security.

DWF has encouraged a progressive shift from total subsidy (Phase 1, 1999/2000 Project), through a mix of project subsidy and family contribution (Phase 2, 2000/2001 Project), to a pilot loan program with 50% subsidy and 50% credit in 2002. The target is to achieve loan rates of up to 80 per cent with low subsidy.

For more information, please email Mr. Guillaume Chantry <dwvn@dng.vnn.vn>

Note: These excerpts for items 1 to 3 above are based on articles/news items from the upcoming issue of Asian Disaster Management News (quarterly newsletter of ADPC) which is under print now and will also be available on ADPC's website.

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