4 Identification of Needs and Resources concerning the Promotion of Cooperation on Disaster Reduction
4-1 Identification of Needs and Resources
From the viewpoint that 1998 was the first fiscal year of operation for the Center, we focused our activities on carrying out surveys while setting up a personal-contact network.
4-1-1 Field Surveys of Member/Advisory Countries, etc.
(1) Korea (Oct. 25 - 28, '98)
(2) Philippines, Malaysia and Singapore (Nov. 8 - 19, '98)
(3) Bangladesh, Thailand and Viet Nam (Nov. 16 - 26, '98)
(4) Indonesia and Brunei (Dec. 2 - 11, '98)
4-1-2 The First ADRC International Expert Meeting, etc.
1) Dates
- Mon. Feb. 15, '99: Symposium
- Tues. Feb. 16, '99: Expert meeting
- Wed. Feb. 17, '99: Expert meeting
- Thurs.Feb. 18, '99: Field trip
2) Those attending (See Table 2-1-1)
3) Items on the agenda for identifying needs and Resources
Past & ongoing disaster information
Disaster management systems and countermeasures
Disaster education and awareness
Utilization of the state-of-the-art technologies
Pic. 4-1-2-1 Expert meeting (Plenary session)
Pic. 4-1-2-2 Expert Meeting (Sub-session)
Pic. 4-1-2-3 Expert Meeting (Sub-session)
4-1-3 Collection of Country Reports
At the Expert Meeting, we requested member/advisory countries to submit their country reports.
(https://www.adrc.asia/countryreport/)
4-1-4 Attendance at International Conferences
1) HABITAT International Conference on Community Development, Fukuoka, Japan (Oct. 5 - 6, '98)
2) WHO Workshop on Strengthening Emergency Preparedness, Manila, Philippines (Nov. 9 - 13, '98)
3) IDNDR-ESCAP Regional Meeting for Asia: -- Bangkok, Thailand (Feb. 23 - 26, '99)
4-2 Needs and Resources concerning Cooperation on Disaster Reduction
It was proposed by member/advisory countries, international organizations concerned and NGOs that needs and resources be surveyed concerning the following.
4-2-1 Past and Ongoing Disaster Information
1) Needs
- Reduction of impact of natural disasters on the basis of lessons learned from past experience
- Sharing of information on the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake
- Provision of disaster information by the affected countries to facilitate emergency relief activities
- Development by the Center of an index and search system to help member countries prepare for their own home pages
- Creation of emergency relief working group
- Regional cooperation concerning health problems caused by disasters
- Organization of policy forums concerning response during times of disaster
- Development of strategies concerning reduction of vulnerability to disasters for sustainable development
- Strengthening of evaluation concerning disaster alleviation, early warning, emergency relief, as well as rehabilitation and reconstruction
- Monitoring and review and cooperation of rescue activities
2) Resources
- Provision of experiences of past disasters by member/advisory countries
- Provision of information on the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake
- Provision of disaster information in common format by affected countries
- Provision of expertise concerning rescue and rehabilitation cases
- Provision of expertise concerning disaster evaluation
- Contribution to rescue activities
- Establishment of information on the home page
by member/advisory countries, on the basis of the development of an index and search system by the center
4-2-2 Disaster Management Systems and Countermeasures
1) Needs
- Improvement of legal systems by each country and acquisition of information on advanced cases
- Development of systems for disasters that extend beyond national borders
- Provision of detailed information on member/advisory countries' disaster management systems
- Expansion of data of disaster reduction experts
- Establishment of a network concerning disaster management systems
- Development of pilot projects concerning rescue programs
- Strengthening of ties between central and local governments
2) Resources
- Provision of information on advanced cases by countries with established legal system
- Provision of expertise concerning rescue manuals, regulations and action plans
- Provision of information concerning institutional mechanism (establishment of a state/provincial disaster management center system)
- Expansion of cooperation through mutual surveys by member/advisory countries, closer ties with international organizations including ADPC in Bangkok and holding of seminars
- Provision of data of disaster reduction experts
4-2-3 Disaster Education and Awareness
1) Needs
- Diffusion of disaster reduction awareness and improvement at all levels from legislators to grassroots and in every area including disaster-vulnerable and remote areas, of training
- Strengthening of local communities in relation to disaster prevention
- Regional cooperation for human resource development
- Development of experts in emergency rescue/relief activities
- Development of experts in risk assessment/analysis, disaster rescue communications and disaster mitigation analysis
- Exchange of knowledge on seminars, conventions, printed matters, etc.
- Strengthening of training in disaster mitigation, early warning, emergency relief, as well as rehabilitation and reconstruction
- Improvement of training in disaster reduction technology
2) Resources
- Provision of training/education manuals and
awareness materials to the Center
Provision of training information and dispatch of lecturers by member/advisory countries, and the holding of workshops by countries concerned
Provision of expertise concerning human resource development
Provision of training in rescue and fire-fighting activities
Provision of training in search/rescue in urban areas and emergency systems
4-2-4 Utilization of Technologies
1) Needs
- Establishment of communication services that facilitate warning/disaster response systems
- Exchange of information and expertise in the short-of-the-art technology
- Promotion of utilization of GIS/RS disaster management systems and technical support
- Provision, collection and dissemination of reliable date
- Regional cooperation for assessment, analysis, etc. of risk and vulnerability
- Development of pilot projects for risk assessment and disaster reduction communications
- Utilization of the Internet, radio and TV broadcasting via satellite communications
- Study of warning, climatic change and its mechanisms
- Facilitation of communication of disaster information with remote areas with restricted infrastructures
- Effective use of weather monitoring and forecasting systems
- Sharing of weather satellite images
- Establishment of flood forecasting/warning systems
- Transfer of technologies concerning disaster alleviation, early warning against cyclones, earthquake engineering and emergency remote communications systems
2) Resources
- Simulations for Forest fire management, and forecasting damage by earthquakes and floods
- Provision of expertise in information technology
4-2-5 Others
1) Needs
- Financial support
- Establishment of a network among disaster-reduction-related organizations
concerning disaster reduction
Disaster mitigation under conditions of shortage of funds and personnel, of low literacy rates, and of remoteness from cities, etc.
Creation of an international network after the IDNDR
Provision of information on aims, priority issues and action plans by the Center
Link to home pages of member/advisory countries and concerned agencies
Provision of information on contact addresses of member/advisory countries and concerned agencies
Provision of related information to member/advisory countries
Publication of newsletters
Holding of an annual forum
2) Resources
- Accumulation of knowledge, know-how, etc. on disaster mitigation through education on disaster reduction in urban centers
- Accumulation of knowledge, know-how, etc. currently held by public agencies, specialized agencies, NGOs, etc. in each country
4-3 Future Policy
We will summarize, analyze and prioritize the above information from member/advisory countries, so that we can incorporate them into our future activities after the IDNDR, which will end next fiscal year.