5 Gathering of Information on Emergency Relief during Times of Disaster
5-1 Latest Information on Disasters
5-1-1 Background and Policy
The purpose of gathering and providing the latest information on ongoing disaster situations and required emergency relief is to provide a standard of judgement on emergency measures by affected countries and agencies concerned and emergency relief by countries and agencies concerned, NGOs and individuals.
5-1-2 Gathering Method and Accumulated Information
Upon receiving disaster information from the press or directly from affected countries, the Center starts gathering related information on the Internet. The information is sent to the Center by related sections of the affected countries as well as by international organizations.
The information gathered is accumulated for classification in the Center's database after new information is added. An "ADRC Disaster Report" is automatically generated for each disaster case, and then posted on our website. Shown Fig. 5-1-2-1 is an example of one of these reports.
5-1-3 Future Policy
At present, the Center gathers information and accumulates it in its database. Some information is contributed by our xoverseas counterparts as well as cooperative members. In future, we plan to promote autonomous information gathering, in which the informants themselves access and upgrade the database by taking advantage of the database upgrading facility via the network.
Because detection of the first report of a disaster depends on the voluntary efforts of information updating staff, detection of serious disasters may be delayed depending on how the disaster occurred and how much interest is shown by the press. To assure early detection of the first report, we will develop a network that monitors occurrence of disasters in cooperation with our counterparts and disaster research institutes in member/advisory countries.
Table 5-1-2-1 Items on the Disaster Case and Disaster Information Database
Database of disaster cases |
Database of disaster information |
ID number |
ID number |
Disaster code |
ID number of the disaster |
Order of occurrence |
Disaster category |
Country |
Source (Japanese) |
Disaster @category (Japanese) |
Source (English) |
Disaster category (English) |
Summary of the article (Japanese) |
Data of occurrence |
Summary of the article (English) |
Brief description of the disaster (Japanese) |
Link to home pages (URLs) |
Brief description of the disaster (English) |
@ |
@
Fig.5-1-2-1 Disaster Report
@@
5-2 Information on Emergency Relief
5-2-1 Background and Policy
When a disaster occurs in the Asian region on such a large scale that it is impossible for one country to take quick and effective measures by itself, neighboring countries and other countries offer a helping hand. To understand on what basis, when and how such relief was provided, and what effect it had provides useful data for determining what kind of information an affected country should provide and when, as well as for judging how other countries should respond to it in the most efficient manner.
It is therefore important to gather and share information that helps match the needs and seeds of both parties and information on evaluation of the relief provided.
As the first step toward this end, we have gathered as much related information as possible from existing databases, country reports and other data from member countries. At the same time, we put together information on how emergency relief is provided in Japan.
5-2-2 Accumulated Information on Emergency Relief
1) Information on Emergency Relief from 1995 onward
Information on how affected countries coped with disasters and relief from overseas countries is posted on the OCHA Situation Report and other locations on the Relief Web.
In fiscal 1998, we collected information on overseas emergency relief during major disasters from 1995 onward from the Relief Web and other sources on the Internet, country reports and reports announced at international symposia, and compiled a list of their locations.
(Excerpts can be found in Table 5-2-2-1. The entire text can be found at https://www.adrc.asia/annual98/h5-2-2-1eg.xls)
2) International Emergency Relief by Japan (Activities by the Japan Disaster Relief Team, JICA)
Japan is one of the largest relief providers in the world for major natural disasters. We therefore started by making a summary of international emergency relief provided by Japan, as a first step towards investigating the emergency relief situation in the Asian region.
Japan's emergency relief can be classified into "personnel relief," "material relief" and "financial relief." In fiscal 1997, we considered providing relief to 111 overseas disasters and sent relief to 27 cases.
The Japan Disaster Relief Team is responsible for personnel relief. Three different types of teams (rescue, medical and experts' teams) and troops of the Self-Defence Forces are dispatched. Depending on the scale of the disaster, up to 100 staff can be sent, but on average 10 staff members are dispatched for about three weeks.
Since 1990, a total of 36 teams have been dispatched overseas, half of which (18 teams) were dispatched to ADRC member/advisory countries.(Table 5-2-2-2)
Shown in Table 5-2-2-3are the Japan Disaster Relief Teams dispatched, the host countries' evaluation of and response to relief supplies and relief measures, and the relief activities by other countries in FY 1997.
@
Table 5-2-2-1 Emergency Relief Information for Disasters from 1995 onward (Excerpts= Nepal Flood Aug.98
₯₯₯one of hundreds)(Entire Table
¨ https://www.adrc.asia/annual98/h5-2-2-1eg.xls)<Nepal Flood Aug.98>
Home Page |
Source |
Report |
Date of Issue |
Donor |
Channel |
The outline of contents |
ReliefWeb |
ECHO |
ECHO: Humanitarian aid: news in brief |
11-Jan-99 |
EU |
Humanism-support project capital of 1,407,000euroes (the purification institution of water, medical support, a temporary shelter, clothes, a lifesaving bag, and a cooking tool offer these contents of support for about 20,000 households) |
|
ReliefWeb |
IFRC |
Nepal : floods |
18-Sep-98 |
DREF |
CHF 50,000 |
|
ReliefWeb |
IFRC |
South Asia : Disasters |
1-Sep-98 |
The Government is seeking domestic and international assistance to provide basic relief to the flood victims. |
||
ReliefWeb |
IFRC |
South Asia : Disasters |
1-Sep-98 |
IFRCS |
DREF |
CHF 50,000 |
ReliefWeb |
IFRC |
South Asia : Disasters |
1-Sep-98 |
Netherlands RC |
IFRC |
A fund is offered |
ReliefWeb |
OCHA |
OCHA Situation Report No. 1 |
12-Aug-98 |
The UN Disaster Management Team |
Any assistance expected is [ possible ] ready. |
|
ReliefWeb |
OCHA |
OCHA Situation Report No. 2 |
8-Sep-98 |
The UN Disaster Management Team |
Any assistance expected is [ possible ] ready. |
|
ReliefWeb |
OCHA |
OCHA Situation Report No. 2 |
8-Sep-98 |
German |
In order to supply medicine, a water purifier, a hot-water-supply machine, a biscuit, and powder milk to the flood victim of southern part Nepal, support of 38,054USD is vowed. |
|
ReliefWeb |
OCHA |
OCHA Situation Report No. 2 |
8-Sep-98 |
IFRCS |
USD 34,000 |
|
ReliefWeb |
UNDP |
Poverty and poor preparation increase toll from natural disasters |
20-Oct-98 |
UNDP |
UNDP assists governments with the management of their responses to disasters by helping to recruit emergency personnel, providing transportation for emergency workers and supplies, providing communications equipment and by coordinating international aid. |
|
ADRC |
Nepal |
Country Report(1998) |
Japan |
1000 blankets, 21 boxes of medical articles |
||
ADRC |
Nepal |
Country Report(1998) |
Republic of Korea |
50,000 Nepal rupee |
||
ADRC |
Nepal |
Country Report(1998) |
CARE |
It is 680,000 Nepal rupee to restoration of water for irrigation, waterworks, and a road. |
||
ADRC |
Nepal |
Country Report(1998) |
UMN |
Food and the medical article for 50,000 Nepal rupee |
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Table 5-2-2-2 Dispatch of the Japan Disaster Relief Team
(FY 1990 - FY 1998)
q ADRC member countriesr |
||||||||
Year |
Country |
Category |
Date |
Casualties |
Team Category |
Dispatch decided |
Duration |
Size of team |
1990 |
Philippines |
Earthquake |
July.16,`90 |
1,660 |
Rescue |
7/17/90 |
7/18 `7/26 |
26 |
@ @ Member Total |
Medical |
7/17/90 |
7/17 `7/24 |
8 |
||||
Experts |
7/27/90 |
7/29 `8/7 |
8 |
|||||
3 |
teams |
42 |
persons |
|||||
6 |
teams |
84 |
persons |
\ 160,814,000 |
||||
1991 @ Member Total |
Bangladesh |
Cyclone |
Apr.29,`91 |
120,000 |
Rescue |
5/13/91 |
5/15 `6/4 |
50 |
Philippines |
Typhoon |
Nov.5,`91 |
2,699 |
Medical |
11/11/91 |
11/11 `11/23 |
6 |
|
2 |
teams |
56 |
persons |
|||||
9 |
teams |
125 |
persons |
\ 471,777,000 |
||||
1992 @ Member Total |
²έΔήΘΌ± |
Earthquake Tsunami |
Dec.12,`92 |
1,216 |
Experts |
12/18/92 |
12/20 `12/30 |
8 |
1 |
teams |
8 |
persons |
|||||
3 |
teams |
29 |
persons |
\ 80,860,000 |
||||
1993 @ @ @ Member Total |
Nepal |
Floods |
July.29,`93 |
1,048 |
Medical |
7/29/93 |
7/31 `8/13 |
9 |
Experts |
8/24/93 |
8/25 `9/7 |
7 |
|||||
Malaysia |
Collapsed building |
Dec.11,`93 |
1 |
Rescue |
12/13/93 |
12/13 `12/20 |
24 |
|
3 |
teams |
40 |
persons |
|||||
3 |
teams |
40 |
persons |
\ 89,281,000 |
||||
1994 Member Total |
Indonesia |
Eruption |
Nov.26,`94 |
58 |
Experts |
11/26/94 |
11/25 `12/13 |
5 |
1 |
teams |
5 |
persons |
|||||
1 |
teams |
5 |
persons |
\ 7,260,000 |
||||
1995 @ Member Total |
Indonesia |
Earthquake Tsunami |
Feb.27,`95 |
Experts |
Feb.95 |
2/26 `3/5 |
3 |
|
1 |
teams |
3 |
persons |
|||||
1 |
teams |
3 |
persons |
\ 8,911,000 |
||||
1996 Member Total |
Bangladesh |
Tornade |
May 16,`96 |
525 |
Medical |
5/16/96 |
5/17 `5/30 |
16 |
1 |
teams |
16 |
persons |
|||||
2 |
teams |
40 |
persons |
\ 133,669,000 |
||||
1997 |
Malaysia |
Air pollution |
Late June- |
Experts |
9/26/97 |
9/29 `10/10 |
6 |
|
@ @ @ @ Member Total |
Indonesia |
Forest Fires |
Late June- |
Experts1 |
9/26/97 |
9/29 `10/10 |
6 |
|
Experts2 |
10/20/97 |
10/22 `11/11 |
44 |
|||||
Singapore |
Oil spills |
Occt.15, f97 |
Experts |
10/17/97 |
10/18 `11/1 |
7 |
||
4 |
teams |
63 |
persons |
|||||
4 |
teams |
63 |
persons |
\ 358,420,000 |
||||
1998 @ @ Member Total |
PNG |
Tsunami |
July 17,`98 |
1,540 |
Medical |
7/21 `8/3 |
11 |
|
Bangladesh |
Floods |
Mid July- |
783 |
Experts |
10/2 `10/15 |
7 |
||
2 |
teams |
18 |
persons |
|||||
7 |
teams |
295 |
persons |
|||||
1990 `1998 ADRC member/advisery countries total |
18 |
teams |
251 |
Persons |
||||
1990 `1998@Global total |
36 |
teams |
684 |
persons |
Source: Outline of International Emergency Relief
Project(JICA,Feb.'99), Front Lines of International Emergency Relief (International Cooperation
Table 5-2-2-3 Emergency Relief Provided by Japan and other Countries and Evaluation of Host Countries
<ADRC member countries only (FY 1997)>
Country |
Category |
Date |
Dispatch of Experts |
Supplies donated |
Response by other countries (US$1,000) |
Evaluation of host countries |
China |
Typhoon |
Aug.18 `97 |
---- |
Tents for 100 - 20 Tents for 20 - 14 Tents for 8 - 13 |
---- |
Expressed sincere gratitude for rapid emergency relief. |
\ 29,912,240 |
||||||
Myanmar |
Floods |
Late July - |
---- |
Sleeping mats - 1,000 Blankets (normal) - 1,750 Flashlights - 500 Detergent - 280 Soap - 3,000 Towels - 1,800 \11,745,134 |
Australia (funds) - 40 UK (funds) - 130 Germany (supplies) 100 Netherlands (funds) - 50 Norway (supplies) - 20 India (supplies) - 30 Korea (supplies) - 30 USA (funds)- 30 |
Much gratitude for the quick emergency relief. Should promote friendly relations between the two countries. |
\ 11,745,134 |
||||||
Indonesia |
Forest fire |
Late June - |
---- |
Back-carried fire-fighting water bag - 300 |
Australia (funds, dispatch of personnel) - 1,440 Canada (funds, dispatch of personnel) - 870 |
---- |
\ 17,390,000 |
||||||
Malaysia |
Air Pollution |
Late June - |
---- |
Back-carried fire-fighting water bag - 300 |
China (supplies) - 120 Germany (supplies, dispatch of personnel) - 380 |
---- |
\ 18,038,000 |
||||||
Indonesia |
Forest Fire |
Late June - |
Expert teams - 6 Ministry of Foreign Affairs - 1 Fire Defense Agency - 2 Physicians -2 JICA - 1 |
\ 17,390,000 |
Korea (funds) - 100 Netherlands (funds) - 130 Norway(funds, dispatch of personnel, supplies) - 290 Russia(supplies, dispatch of personnel) - 1,020 |
Deep gratitude for dispatch of expert teams. Will incorporate survey findings in future plans. |
Malaysia |
Air pollution |
Late June - |
Expert team - 6 Ministry of Foreign Affairs -1 Experts on air pollution control - 2 Physicians - 2 JICA - 1 |
\ 21,893,010 |
Sweden (dispatch of personnel) Thailand (supplies, dispatch of personnel) - 50 UK (funds) - 130 USA (funds, dispatch of personnel) - 30 |
Helped prepare English report that includes technical proposals on the environment and medical fields and made proposalsconcerning f uture contingency plans to the Ministry of Scientific Technology and Environment |
Indonesia |
Forest fire |
Late June - |
---- |
Portable fire-fighting pump sets - 50 Back-carried fire-fighting water bags - 300 Portable loudspeakers - 50 Wireless equipment - 50 |
---- |
---- |
\ 74,816,500 |
||||||
Indonesia |
Forest fire |
Late June - |
Expert teams - 44 Ministry of Foreign Affairs - 2 Fire Defense Agency - 1 Metropolitan Fire Board - 19 Yokohama Municipal Fire Bureau -2 Nagoya Municipal Fire Bureau - 5 Osaka Municipal Fire Bureau - 3 Physicians/Nurses - 2 JICA - 5 All Nippon Airways Maintenance - 5 |
\ 224,888,676 |
------ |
President Suharto acknowledged the help. |
Singapore |
Oil spills |
Oct.15.97 |
Expert teams - 7 Maritime Safety Agency - 1 3rd Regional Maritime Safety HQ - 4 JICA - 2 |
\ 94,504,610 |
---- |
MPA and others concerned highly appreciated efforts to recover floating oil (so thin that it is difficult to identify) every day as well as the recovery techniques used. |
Viet Nam |
Typhoon |
Nov .2.97 |
---- |
Medical supplies -3 \6,040,529 @ |
Australia (funds) - 230 China (funds) - 20 France (funds) - 110 Netherlands (funds) - 5 Norway (funds) - 4 |
Gratitude for valuable support. Will make most of the supplies to respond to the goodwill shown by Japan. |
\ 6,040,529 |
||||||
China |
Earthquake |
Jan 10.98 |
---- |
Tents for 20 - 15 Tents for 8 - 4 Sleeping mats - 600 Blankets (against cold) - 350 Water purifiers - 14 Portable generators - 30 Cord reels - 30 Flashlights - 300 Dry batteries - 900 |
Australia (funds) - 50 Denmark (funds) - 30 France (funds) - 170 Germany (funds) - 40 Norway (funds) - 40 Netherlands (funds) - 30 UK (funds) - 330 USA (funds) - 530 |
Deep gratitude for the kind help from Japan whenever a disaster occurs. Will pass relief supplies to the affected area and convey the goodwill of the people and Government of Japan to the victims. |
\ 30,484,750 |
Source: International Emergency Relief No. 22 (JICA)
5-2-3 Future Policy
In fiscal 1998, we gathered information on what kind of emergency relief was provided by other countries and other entities for what kind of disasters, by referring to existing documents and past cases in Japan.
We also gathered information on how host countries evaluated Japanese emergency relief.
In the future, we will gather such after-the-fact information through cooperation from the countries and organizations concerned, in the hope of finding an optimal way of providing and asking for relief by examining what concrete effects each type of emergency relief had on the affected countries, if timing and contents of the relief was appropriate, and how and to where affected countries should have provided information to enable other countries to provide relief in a more effective manner.