Last updated: 31 October, 2008    

Disaster Mitigation in Asia
Issue No. 4 
30 May 2003

A. From the Region
B. From the Globe 
C. Conferences & Courses
D. Useful Resources

FROM THE GLOBE

UN ISDR's 2003 World Disaster Reduction Campaign

In keeping with the International Year of Freshwater, ISDR's 2003 World Disaster Reduction Campaign looks at how we can cope with water-related hazards. Hydrometeorological hazards (such as floods, droughts, landslides, tropical cyclones, hurricanes and typhoons) are noticeably on the rise, affecting more communities than ever due to human activities that increase vulnerability and change the natural balance of ecosystems.

"Turning the Tide" the slogan for this year's campaign aims at changing our perceptions and attitudes towards the impact of hydrometeorological disasters on communities, the importance of incorporating disaster reduction as part of sustainable development and the involvement of as many sectors as possible in this process.

In preparation for the June release of campaign materials, contributions are being sought that exemplify turning the tide. Stories, examples from local, national or transborder integrated management of floods or water-related emergencies are welcome (500 words or less). Contributions to be included in the information kit must be received by 20 June 2003.

For more information visit <http://www.unisdr.org> or e-mail Ms. Nicole Rencoret <rencoret@un.org>

New Secretariat for the ProVention Consortium

The ProVention Consortium, launched early 2000, is a global coalition of governments, international organizations, academic institutions, the private sector, and civil society organizations aimed at reducing disaster impacts in developing countries. The Consortium functions as a network to share knowledge and to connect and leverage resources to reduce disaster risk.

In its fourth year, the ProVention Secretariat has been transferred from the World Bank's Disaster Management Facility (DMF) in Washington to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) in Geneva.

The first three years of ProVention has produced a number of methodologies and tools for identifying hazards and vulnerabilities and assessing the potential socio-economic impact of disaster events. Contributions have been made to raise awareness, building capacity and transfer knowledge on different approaches to disaster risk reduction. Focus issues include the impact of disasters on cities, microfinance for disaster risk management and reduced vulnerability to climate variability.

We look forward to more ProVention.

For more information visit <http://www.proventionconsortium.org> or e-mail Mr. David Peppiatt or Mr. Bruno Haghebaert at <provention@ifrc.org>

Revision of the Sphere Handbook

The Sphere Project was launched in 1997 by a group of humanitarian NGOs and the Red Cross and Red Crescent movement. A two-year process of inter-agency collaboration saw Sphere frame a Humanitarian Charter and identify Minimum Standards for disaster assistance in five sectors - water supply and sanitation, nutrition, food aid, shelter and site planning, and health services. The Handbook of the Sphere Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards was first published in 2000.

For the Handbook to remain relevant to humanitarian workers and to the populations affected by conflict and calamity it must be regularly updated. The Handbook is currently being revised to add or clarify standards, introduce a new section on Food Security, update the indicators and guidance notes as needed, enhance linkages between sectors, iron out inconsistencies, faults and important omissions from the first edition, incorporate cross cutting issues, and undergo a robust and widespread process of engagement among practitioners in each sector leading to consensus on the second edition.

A draft of the revised Sphere Handbook is available for public comment on the web. For more information visit <http://www.sphereproject.org/handbook/rev_index.htm> or e-mail <sphere@ifrc.org>.

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