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Disaster Mitigation Advocacy with the Indonesian Parliament

An effective way to advocate for disaster mitigation is to gain support from a country's parliament members. On July 18, Dr. Harkunti Pertiwi Rahayu, Information Manager of the Indonesian Urban Disaster Mitigation Project, was requested by the Ministry of Research and Technology to give a presentation on earthquake disaster mitigation to a nationally-televised session of the Indonesian Parliament.

Second Urban Disaster Mitigation Course in Vientiane, Lao PDR

A four-day course on Urban Disaster Mitigation was held from 18-21 July 2000, as part of the ADB-funded Advanced Urban Planning and Management (AUPM) program of the Urban Research Institute (URI) in Lao PDR. The AUDMP/ADPC-developed curriculum, which included desk exercises and field visits, aimed at enhancing understanding of disaster mitigation and management concepts and issues.

The ADPC resource persons were 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. Also involved as resource persons were the National Disaster Management Office, the Lao PDR Fire Department, course participants, and Ms. Angelika Planitz from CONCERN Worldwide, all of whom shared their experiences on fire safety, landslides and floods.

Launch of the Replication Phase of the Creating Safer Communities Project

The Creating Safer Communities: Sri Lanka Urban Multi-hazard Disaster Mitigation Project, one of eight AUDMP country-level projects, successfully completed its demonstration phase in Ratnapura and Nawalapitiya. During the replication phase, which started on 1 June 2000, the project will disseminate experiences from the demonstration phase to Colombo Municipal Corporation and 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.

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 plans in Sabaragamuwa Province. This is an expansion of the Ratnapura demonstration phase, which established a disaster management steering committee that has proved valuable in helping the city implement important mitigation actions.

A Natural Disaster Mitigation (NDM) training course and craftsmen training will be institutionalized in the Center for Housing Planning and Building (CHPB), which has adapted the AUDMP regional urban disaster mitigation course into a national program. Also, the National Building Research Organization (NBRO), one of three project implementing organizations, established a rapid assessment method for landslide hazard zonation for preparation of hazard maps. A methodology developed for integration of natural disaster risk information into urban physical planning processes has become a directive under the national urban development authority for inclusion in all programs.

About AUDMP The AUDMP is a eight-year program designed to reduce the natural disaster vulnerability of urban populations, infrastructure, critical facilities, and shelter in Asian cities. Currently, projects under the AUDMP are being implemented in sites in the following countries: The Philippines (floods in Naga City and multiple hazards in San Carlos); Indonesia (earthquakes in Bandung); India (technological hazards in Calcutta and Baroda); Sri Lanka (multiple hazards in Ratnapura); Nepal (earthquakes); Lao PDR (fires and other urban emergencies in Vientiane); Cambodia (floods in vulnerable districts); and Bangladesh (floods in Tongi and Gaibanda). Core funding for the AUDMP comes from USAID's Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA). Additional funds come from ADPC and collaborating institutions in target countries, among others. The program is managed by the USAID's Regional and Urban Development Office for South Asia (RUDO/SA) and is implemented by ADPC in Bangkok, Thailand. For additional information about the AUDMP, please contact Program Manager Josh Moga at (66-2) 524-5376; E-mail: audmp@ait.ac.th. Web site: http://www.adpc.ait.ac.th/audmp/audmp.html