Activity Report

31 October 2024

As announced previously, Asian Disaster Reduction Center (ADRC) will hold the Asian Conference on Disaster Reduction 2024 (ACDR2024) on 12-13 November 2024, in cooperation with Vietnam Disaster and Dike Management Authority (VDDMA) and the Cabinet Office of Japan. This year's conference will take place in Hanoi, Viet Nam under the theme of "Proactive Solutions and Anticipatory Actions for Sustainable Resilience to the Climate Crisis."

The morning of the second day of the ACDR2024 will feature a special session focusing on disasters and DRR challenges in Viet Nam. Local experts including officers and researchers from VDDMA, local governments and research institutes will report on the impact of Typhoon Yagi, which hit Viet Nam in September 2024, as well as introduce the participants to the latest DRR initiatives in Viet Nam.

We are pleased to announce the latest information on the conference, given below. Those wishing to participate in this conference in person or online can register on the ACDR2024 website.

Registration (ACDR2024 website): https://acdr.adrc.asia/

Date (Viet Nam time, UTC+7): 12 & 13 November 2024

Programme (tentative, as of 30 October 2024)

Day 1: 12 November 2024

AM

・Opening Session

・ Roundtable: Challenges and Progress in Implementing the Actions Related to Resilience to Climate Crisis in the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction

PM

・ Session 1: Enhancing Flood and Flash Flood Risk Information

・ Session 2: Improving Flood Countermeasures Based on Analyses of Future Risk for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Climate Change Adaptation (CCA)

Day 2: 13 November 2024

AM

・ Special Session on Disasters and Disaster Management in Vietnam

・ Wrap-up

・ Closing Session

PM

・ Field Trip (members only)

The details of the ACDR2024 including the latest programme and speakers can be found on the above mentioned website. We are looking forward to seeing you all soon!

(2024/10/31 15:00)

31 October 2024

In line with the 20th Commemoration of the Aceh Tsunami, ADRC collaborates with the Tsunami and Disaster Mitigation Research Center at the University Syiah Kuala (TDMRC/USK) in organizing the "International Symposium on Tsunami Disaster Mitigation."

(URL: https://tdmrc.usk.ac.id/international-seminar-on-tsunami-mitigation/)

Theme: Strengthening Tsunami Mitigation Strategies After 20 Years of the Aceh Tsunami

Date: 7 November 2024 (Thu)

Time: 08:30-17:00 (GMT+7)

Venue: Hybrid, TDMRC USK Auditorium

Registration: https://bit.ly/TsunamiSym

ADRC is co-organizing this event in support of the World Tsunami Awareness Day.

(2024/10/31 15:00)

21 to 25 October 2024 (Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam)

From 21 to 25 October 2024, the 45th ASEAN Committee on Disaster Management (ACDM) Meeting, 12th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Disaster Management (AMMDM) Meeting, and other related meetings were held in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam.

The 8th Meeting of ACDM Plus Japan took place on 23 October, where ADRC gave presentations on the intended new activities of the projects "Promotion of Database Linkage and Capacity Enhancement through Utilization of GLIDE" and "Pilot Project on Utilization of State-of-the-Art Communication Technologies for CBDRM and Disaster Emergency Management." During the meeting, reports were also made on the progress of various activities of the ASEAN-Japan Work Plan on Disaster Management 2021-2025.

The ASEAN Commemoration of the 20th Year of the Indian Ocean Tsunami, Commemoration of ASEAN Day for Disaster Management (ADDM) 2024 and International Day of Disaster Risk Reduction 2024 were held on 25 October.

(2024/11/01 15:00)

14-18 October 2024 (Manila,Philippines)

QZSS, which stands for Quasi Zenith Satellite Systems, is referred to as "Japanese GPS" due to similarities of functions such as positioning and communication. Mr Gerry POTUTAN, senior researcher at ADRC, highlighted the contributions of QZSS in improving early warning systems (EWS) during his presentation in the partner event that ADRC co-organized with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), and other regional and local partners at the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (APMCDRR), 14-18 October 2024 in Manila.

Firstly, QZSS can transmit early warning message to mountainous and island areas that have limited access to Wi-Fi, internet, or cellular networks, thereby augmenting their early warning systems. Secondly, QZSS can serve as a back-up system for transmitting warning messages to communities-at-risk when ground telecommunication systems are damaged in a disaster. Since QZSS is also a positioning satellite system, warning messages can be transmitted specifically to disaster-affected communities. Details of the session are available at the following link: https://apmcdrr.undrr.org/conference-event/urban-resilience-metropolises-incorporation-multi-sectoral-spatial-risk-assessment.

ADRC also exhibited posters showcasing its activities on: 1) promoting satellite observation and messaging services for disaster risk management, 2) utilizing Information and Communications Technology for Community Based Disaster Risk Management (ICT for CBDRM), and 3) implementing capacity building programs for comprehensive disaster risk reduction.

On the last day of the conference, ADRC representatives joined a field visit to Marikina City and Pasig City to learn more about the JICA project "Pasig-Marikina River Channel Improvement," which includes river widening to further minimize the impact of flooding in Metro Manila.

(2024/10/25 15:00)

13 to 20 October 2024

Asian Disaster Reduction Center (ADRC) coordinated a study visit to Japan from 13 to 20 October 2024 for executive-level members of the Executive Leadership in Emergency Management Programme (ACE-LEDMP) operated by the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management (AHA Centre). The ACE-LEDMP executive level programme aims to develop leaders in the ASEAN disaster management sector through a curriculum consisting of a three-month online course, a two-month on-site course in Indonesia and a one-week study visit to Japan.

The study visit welcomed 20 prospective executive level officials with less than five years' experience in disaster management organizations from 10 ASEAN Member States (AMS) and Timor-Leste, along with 4 staff members from the AHA Centre. They received lectures from the Cabinet Office, Kobe City, the Arakawa Karyu River Office, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and ADRC. They also visited the Disaster Reduction and Human Renovation Institution (DRI), the Tsunami and Storm Surge Disaster Prevention Station, the Nojima Fault Preservation Museum, and Kyoto University's Ujigawa Open Laboratory to deepen their understanding of Japan's disaster management policies.

At the end of the visit, the participants presented their findings gained from the study visit and shared ideas on how to advance disaster management efforts in their respective countries. Upon their return to Indonesia, the participants continued to review and reflect on their experiences gained throughout the ACE-LEDMP programme to develop future action plans.

(2024/10/27 15:00)