Last updated: 08 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 REGION

School Earthquake Safety

The earthquake that shook Bingol, Turkey on 1 May 2003 claimed 177 lives and 521 injuries. The fact that half of the deaths was a result of the collapse of a primary boarding school killing 85 children and one teacher raised the issues of "why again" and who is responsible. Governments for lack of building standards, enforcement system and quality control, construction companies for non-compliance and corruption, and/or society for poverty and ignorance.

The Bingol Earthquake has generated much discussion on the RADIX e-mail discussion list which can be viewed at <http://online.northumbria.ac.uk/geography_research/radix/latest.htm> Many organizations worldwide do recognize the importance of schools pre-, during and post-disaster. Schools house the community's future. Schools can promote earthquake preparedness and mitigation in community. Schools that are still standing and are safe can be used as refuge during and after a disaster.

There have been a number of initiatives to make schools safer and, at the same time use schools as the place to promote awareness on earthquake safety.

• In India, SEEDS is starting the Earthquake Safety Initiative <http://seedsindia.org>.
• In Bandung, Indonesia, the Institute of Technology Bandung have led the process of incorporating earthquake safety in schools through teachers training, now institutionalized within the Ministry of National Education <harkunti@si.itb.ac.id>.
• In Kathmandu, Nepal, the National Society for Earthquake Technology pioneered a comprehensive School Earthquake Safety (SES) Program that includes school retrofitting and reconstruction, masons training and earthquake preparedness planning through the SES program committee represented by teachers, students, parents, masons and government officials <http://www.nset.org.np>.
• United Nations? Centre for Regional Development is supporting a number of SES initiatives in India, Japan, Nepal and Turkey <http://www.uncrd.org>.
• Geo Hazards International <http://www.geohaz.org> and many other US-based organizations are also very active in promoting SES.

Are you involved in or aware of similar initiatives? Please share it by writing to <audmp@adpc.net>.

Disaster Risk Communication

Disaster risk communication is the process through which people living in hazard-prone areas come to realize and understand that they live in areas of risk, know the specific dangers that they are exposed to and the warnings that are issued, and know the appropriate action to be taken to protect their lives and minimize property damages.

One of the reasons for continued deaths, injuries and losses from disasters may be a result of non-communication or mis-communication. To promote awareness, change attitudes and mobilize people to take appropriate actions are key challenges for disaster managers.

The next issue (April-June 2003) of ADPC's Asian Disaster Management News is focused on Disaster Risk Communication. It will provide case studies and lessons learned from communities all over the world.

Contribute your experiences and send them to <audmp@adpc.net> Back issues can be viewed at <http://www.adpc.net/infores/newsletter/newsletter.html>.

A Lessons Learned for Disaster Managers on Awareness Promotion

One lessons learned asks disaster managers to PLAN FOR THE UNEXPECTED.

As your focus is on disaster risk management, there may be a time when your efforts are interrupted by a disaster event. Take this possibility into account during your planning process. Include in your plan how you will handle your strategy if an event that you are addressing in your communication campaign does take place. Also be prepared if an event of another nature takes place. In either case, be prepared as to how you will incorporate the disaster event as an opportunity in your campaign strategy. Also be aware of how an event that impacts communities outside of the one you are addressing can be utilized in your campaign efforts. All of these can be considered informational hook or special ways to get the community's attention.

Extract taken from ADPC's Asian Urban Disaster Mitigation Program Risk Communication Strategy Guidelines (unpublished), prepared by Ms. Suzanne Frew, The Frew Group.

For more information e-mail <audmp@adpc.net>.

Viewpoints on Sri Lanka

The recent flood and landslide recorded as the worst in Sri Lanka's history killed 267 and displaced more than 200,000 families, according to rapid assessments. While floods were mainly responsible for property damage, the landslides resulted in many casualties. This disaster brings up an issue pertinent to Sri Lanka but also relevant to other countries.

There is an increasing need, and it has become a big challenge for government, non-government and donor organizations to deal with complex disasters comprising of natural and "man-made" disasters: In Sri Lanka, organizations are engaged in continued peace negotiations and rehabilitation of conflict-affected communities, on the one hand. On the other hand, organizations will have to manage relief and recovery in the flood- and landslide-affected areas and begin implementing mitigation plans that will reduce the impact of future disasters.

This is reported by Mr. NMSI Arambepola, Program Manager, ADPC who was recently in Sri Lanka.

Please share your viewpoints on disaster issues by writing to <audmp@adpc.net>.

Next Page

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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.

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