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         Dear Readers, 
         
        We are very happy to inform you that, during his inaugural address at the high level
         “Ministerial Meeting on Regional Cooperation on Early
        Warning”, in Phuket, the Prime Minister of Thailand announced that his cabinet had approved the grant of international status to ADPC. The Center now awaits the signing of its Charter by its founding-member countries, namely Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, Sri Lanka and Thailand, which will be initiated first with the Thai government towards the end of this month. 
         
        Suvit Yodmani, Executive Director, Asian Disaster Preparedness Center 
         
        ACTIVITIES 
        Mine Risk Education Training Courses Evaluation (5 - 11 Jan), Thailand 
        An evaluation of the mine risk education training
        courses was carried out by the MRE team at Mae Hong Son and Chiang Mai
        provinces in north Thailand, to assess the students’ knowledge of mine risks and the teachers’ views
        of the effectiveness of the project implementation. The evaluation, submitted
        to UNICEF was very positive. The teachers had applied the knowledge to
        their various classes. 
         
        Promoting Mine Risk Awareness among children on National Children’s Day (8 Jan), Thailand 
        As part of raising awareness on mine risk education
        and safety, a drawing contest, games and exhibition on mine risk education
        was organized on 8 January, on the occasion of the National Children’s Day in Thailand.  
         
        Presentation of the Damage Assessment Methodology in Gujarat (18 Feb), India 
        A presentation of the findings of the 9 months study
        on developing a methodology for damage and loss assessment in Gujarat
        will be made to the Gujarat State Disaster Management Authority (GSDMA)
        on 18 February. The study is aimed at setting up a comprehensive disaster
        damage and loss assessment system through the improvement and expansion
        of existing mechanisms, and providing initial steps towards its implementation
        through capacity building.  
         
        EVENTS 
        ASEAN-China Workshop on Tsunami Early Warning, (25-26 Jan), Beijing, China 
        ADPC attended the ASEAN-China workshop on Tsunami Early Warning hosted by the China Earthquake Administration in order to strengthen international cooperation on tsunami warning. The workshop provided a platform to introduce and exchange the latest experience in the field of marine earthquake and tsunami. 
         
        Ministerial Meeting on the Establishment of an Early Warning System, (28-29 Jan), Phuket, Thailand 
        A two day meeting of ministers and special envoys
        from over 40 countries was held in Phuket, Thailand, with the aim of
        furthering regional cooperation on tsunami early warning arrangements
        in the Indian Ocean and Southeast Asia. The Meeting recognized ADPC’s
        readiness to serve as a regional centre or focal point for a multi-nodal
        tsunami early warning arrangement in the region, working together with
        relevant national and regional institutions and agreed to strengthen
        its capacity for the same.For more details, please visit http://www.mfa.go.th/web/2096.php?id=1577  
         
        Seminar on Earthquakes and Tsunamis for School Children (4 Jan), Thailand 
        ADPC conducted a one day orientation seminar for the AIT community school children on what to do before, during and after earthquakes and tsunamis through games, quizzes and interactive question and answers. 
         
        Visit of Children and Guardians of Tsunami Victims to ADPC (11 Feb), Thailand 
        ADPC hosted lunch and organized events to entertain 122 children and 102 parents and guardians, victims of the recent tsunami, from the south of Thailand during their Royal Thai Army-sponsored trip to Bangkok. 
         
        WORKSHOPS/TRAININGS  
        Capacity Building in Asia using Information Technology Applications (CASITA-Phase II) Kickoff Meeting (14-15 Feb), Netherlands 
        The Second phase of the CASITA Project will be started
        at this kickoff meeting. The Echo funded project is being implemented
        in partnership with ITC Netherlands and Partner Universities. Universities
        from four countries: Sri Lanka, India, Indonesia, Thailand and the University
        of Bonn will participate in this meeting as well as the follow-up training.  
         
        Development of a Pacific Community Based Disaster Risk Management Course (14-25 Feb), Fiji 
        ADPC was requested by South Pacific Applied Geo-science Commission (SOPAC) in Fiji to assist in developing and delivering a pacific community-based disaster risk management course. This course will be replicated to the other countries in the Pacific region. 
         
        CBDRM Training in Landslide Prone Areas (24-25 Feb), Chiang Rai, Thailand 
        A CBDRM Training will be conducted under the Thailand Urban Disaster Mitigation Project (TUDMP) in the landslide prone areas of Maekorn and its sub-districts in the north of Thailand. 
         
        UPCOMING EVENTS IN MARCH
         
        
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International Coordination Meeting for the development of Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System for the Indian Ocean within a Global Framework UNESCO Headquarters, France, 3-  8 March
            2005  
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Regional Consultative Committee MDRM meeting 15-16 March, Bangkok, Thailand  
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Disaster Management Course 19-31 March, Kabul, Afghanistan  
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CBDM Training in Landslide Prone Areas 17-18 March, Chiang
            Rai, Thailand  
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National Seminar on Urban Risk Management Dhaka, Bangladesh  
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UDM Training for Chiang Mai University Students, Chiang Mai, Thailand  
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Start-up of "Capacity Building for Planning and Implementation of Flood Preparedness Programs at Provincial and District Levels in the Lower Mekong Basin (Phase II)" Project   
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Consultation Workshop to Initiate Capacity Assessment for Tsunami Early Warning Systems, Thailand  
         
        For more information on the above workshops/training, events and activities, please visit our website
        www.adpc.net or contact us at adpc@adpc.net To subscribe to this service, send a blank email
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