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Activity Report： Themes & Issues >> Field Survey

Various Missions in Nepal

25-29 February 2020 (Kathmandu, Nepal)

ADRC engaged in three different activities during the visit to Nepal. Firstly, ADRC Executive Director, along with researchers from JICA Tohoku Center and University of Hyogo, met with Mr. Sushil Gyewali, CEO of National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) and other officials. The meeting discussed the joint research project on Modeling Disaster Recovery Governance in Asia. Mr. Gyewali explained the process as well as the progress of recovery from the 2015 Gorkha Earthquake. He reported that as of December 2019, 85% of all projects were completed. During the field visits, the team learned that NRA utilizes 'User Committees' to reconstruct completely damaged heritage sites (e.g., Ranipokhari). NRA also promotes 'Integrated Settlements' in reconstructing private houses (e.g., Ward 12 in Melamchi). Since NRA will be dissolved in the end of 2020, its functions will be transferred to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) - a newly established agency. Secondly, ADRC, in collaboration with experts from Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) and GeoThings, organized a workshop on the 'Utilization of ICT to Strengthen Disaster Resilience'. In this workshop, GeoThings demonstrated the functions of 'geoBingAn' - a social media Apps that functions to report personal safety and simple assessments (e.g., building damage) following a disaster. Thirdly, ADRC coordinated other separate meetings with SAARC Secretariat, NDRRMA, Planning Ministry, and JICA Nepal.

(2020/03/13 14:40)

ADRC DRR Policy Peer Review FY2014

13-21 December 2014 (Bhutan)

Since 2009, ADRC has been conducting DRR Policy Peer Reviews to help develop the DRR capacity of ADRC-member countries through the promotion of information sharing and the strengthening of relationships among member countries. The target project selected for review this year, the sixth since the Peer Review process was launched, is a project titled "Integrating Cultural Heritage and Disaster Risk Reduction (Disaster Preparedness and Sensitization Training program on Dzong (Fortress) Safety at Dagana)". After the country report was submitted, a reviewer team comprised of the following two individuals visited Bhutan to conduct interviews: Ms. Yuko Nakagawa (Executive Director, NPO SEEDS Asia), and Mr. Junji Moriwaki (ADRC Researcher).

The team visited the Ministry of Home & Culture Affairs Department of Disaster Management (DDM) and so on, which is involved in DRR activities, to examine its DRR development efforts in Bhutan. The team also conducted inspections of Dagana District, where is a place of DRR drills were carried out, after which it prepared a draft report of its survey results highlighting its specific findings (e.g., "5 days training increased the awareness and knowledge on fire safety and DRR to monks and administrative officers in Dagana Dzong which was not there.", "Good coordination among relevant agencies such as DDM, fire division, and district administration made smooth implementation." and "Well understanding of the Governor and Disaster Focal person of the district office for the need of DRR and willingness for their continuous efforts.") and recommendations (e.g., "Fire is not the only hazard in Dagana. Training and raising awareness on multi hazard, especially on earthquake should be sought." and "Collaboration between school and community on DRR drills can be sought."). A workshop was also held to gather opinions and comments used in finalizing the report as well as to introduce the importance of community involvements and education in schools for enhancing the DRR, with local participants. This proved to be a very good opportunity for participants to share information and ideas with one another.

After its survey mission ends, the reviewer team compiles a survey report, which it sends to the countries examined as well as to other ADRC member countries, so as to enhance cross-fertilization.

ADRC would like to express its sincerest gratitude to all of those who have made such important contributions to this project.

(2014/12/22 19:40)

ADRC DRR Policy Peer Review FY2014

11-18 October 2014 (Armenia)

Since 2009, ADRC has been conducting DRR Policy Peer Reviews to help develop the DRR capacity of ADRC-member countries through the promotion of information sharing and through the strengthening of relationships among member countries.

The target project selected for review this year, the sixth since the Peer Review process was launched, is a project aimed at Seismic Safety Capacity Building of nursing homes and orphanages in the northern part of Armenia. After the country report was submitted, a reviewer team comprised of Dr. Kazuyoshi Ohnishi (Associate Professor, Graduate School of Engineering, Kobe University, Japan), Dr. Linsheng Gu (Professor and Executive Director, Institute for Disaster Management and Reconstruction (IDMR), Sichuan University - Hong Kong Polytechnic University, China) and Mr. Junji Moriwaki (ADRC Researcher) visited Armenia to conduct interviews.

The team visited the National Survey for Seismic Protection Agency, which is involved in DRR activities, to examine its DRR development efforts in Armenia. The team then conducted inspection of nursing homes and orphanages, after which it prepared a draft report of its survey results with all its findings (i.e. "The map of evacuation routes and places is posted on the wall" "The orphanage sets a rule that elder students should assist younger pupils in disaster", etc.) and recommendations (i.e. "Need to replace the furniture not to impede evacuation route" "Cooperation with local community regularly for assuming emergency situations", etc.). A workshop was also held to gather opinions and comments used in finalizing the report as well as to share good DRR practices from Japan and China with local participants. This proved to be a very good opportunity for participants to share information and ideas with one another.

This project aims to develop a mutual learning process among ADRC-member countries, rejecting conventional models of one-way learning. After its survey mission ends, the reviewer team compiles a survey report, which it sends to the countries examined as well as to other ADRC member countries, so as to enhance cross-fertilization.

ADRC would like to express its sincerest gratitude to all of those who have made such important contributions to this project.

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　(2014/10/27 19:40)

ADRC DRR Policy Peer Review FY2013

23 February-1 March 2014 (ARMENIA)

Since 2009, ADRC has initiated a pilot project of DRR Policy Peer Review with the aim of developing DRR capacity of the ADRC member countries by sharing information and strengthening the relationship among member countries.

This year, Improving the earthquake safety of nursing homes and orphanages in Armenia was selected as one of the target projects of the fifth year. After the submission of country report, reviewer team composed of Ph.D. Aiko Sakurai (Associate Professor, Graduate School of International Cooperation Studies, Kobe University, Japan), Dr. Renato U. Solidum, Jr (Director, Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, Philippines) and Mr. Junji Moriwaki (Researcher of ADRC) had visited Armenia to conduct interview surveys.

The team visited National Survey for Seismic Protection Agency, involving in DRR activities to examine how they have been making efforts of developing DRR in Armenia. Then, the team conducted inspection of nursing homes and orphanages for checking current situations, and prepared a draft report of the survey result with all findings and recommendations. Also the workshop was held for getting opinion and comments to finalize the report as well as introducing good practices for DRR activities in Japan and Philippines. It provided a very good opportunity for exchanging opinions each other.

This project aims at developing the mutual learning process among the ADRC member countries instead of one-way learning. After the survey missions, reviewer team will compile survey reports and send them to target countries and then to the ADRC member countries to enhance cross-fertilization.

ADRC would like to express its sincerest gratitude to all of those who have made precious contribution to this project.

(2014/2/23 19:40)

ADRC DRR Policy Peer Review FY2013

23 - 29 December 2013, Maldives

Since 2009, ADRC has initiated a pilot project of DRR Policy Peer Review with the aim of developing DRR capacity of ADRC member countries by sharing information and strengthening the relationship among member countries.

This year, "Developing a National Framework on Managing Internally Displaced Populations (IDPs) during emergencies" was selected as one of the target projects of the fifth year. After the submission of country report, reviewer team composed of Ph.D. Anawat Suppasri (Associate Professor, International Research Institute of Disaster Science, Tohoku University, Japan), Ms. Nwet Yin Aye (Deputy Director, The Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement, Myanmar) and Mr. Junji Moriwaki (Researcher of ADRC) had visited Maldives to conduct interview surveys.

The team visited relevant organizations involving in DRR activities to examine how they have been making efforts of developing DRR in Maldives. Then, the team conducted inspection and interview at 2004 Indian Ocean Earthquake and Tsunami affected area, and prepared a draft report of the survey result with all findings and recommendations (such as the development of DRR at community level, through capability and legislation building). Also the workshop was held in Male for getting opinion and comments to finalize the report, as well as introducing good practices for reducing tsunami risk and IDPs management activities in Japan and Myanmar. It provided a very good opportunity for exchanging opinions each other.

This project aims at developing the mutual learning process among ADRC member countries instead of one-way learning. After the survey missions, reviewer team will compile survey reports and send them to target countries and then to ADRC member countries to enhance cross-fertilization.

ADRC would like to express its sincerest gratitude to all of those who have made precious contribution to this project.

(2013/12/23 19:40)

ADRC DRR Policy Peer Review FY2012

24 December - 1 March 2013, TAJIKISTAN

This year, Flood Risk Reduction in Rudaki district of Tajikistan was selected as one of the target projects of the fourth year. After the submission of country report, reviewer team composed of Ph.D. Kenichiro Kobayashi (Associate Professor, Research Center for Urban Safety and Security, Kobe University, Japan), Mr. Prasong Thammapala (Head of Department Operation Center, Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, Thailand) and Mr. Junji Moriwaki (Researcher of ADRC) had visited Tajikistan to conduct interview surveys.

The team visited Main Department of Geology, Institute of Geology Seismic Engineering and other organizations involving in DRR activities to examine how they have been making efforts of developing DRR in Tajikistan. Then, the team conducted inspection of flood vulnerable site as Tajikabad and Ganjina in Rudaki district, and prepared a draft report of the survey result with all findings and recommendations. Also the workshop was held in Dushanbe for getting opinion and comments to finalize the report as well as introducing good practices for reducing flood risk activities in Japan and Thailand. It provided a very good opportunity for exchanging opinions each other.

ADRC would like to express its sincerest gratitude to all of those who have made precious contribution to this project.

(2013/2/24 19:40)

Research on the Utilization of Satellite Image in Asia-Pacific Countries (Part 4)

4-5 February 2013 (Bangladesh, Bhutan)

ADRC, conducting the research on the Asian and Pacific nations' needs to satellite data for the disaster management, visited Ministry of Disaster Management & Relief in Bangladesh on 4 February and Ministry of Home & Cultural Affairs in Bhutan on 5. In Bangladesh, experts for disaster management, satellite agency and mapping agency attended the meeting. In Bhutan, experts for disaster response attended the meeting. Due to the topographical condition and the lack of the adequate infrastructure, the two countries showed strong interests in the utilization of the satellite images for DRR including the emergency observation of the disaster area, such as flood, sediment disaster and Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF). Bangladesh has been active in collaboration with national space agency, In Bhutan, ADRC gave a status update on the Sentinel Asia Project and shared ideas about specific ways that satellite images can be (or are being) used in disaster mitigation activities.

(2013/2/18 13:40)

Research on the Utilization of Satellite Image in Asia-Pacific Countries (Part 2)

18-19 December 2012 (India, Nepal)

ADRC, conducting the research on the Asian and Pacific nations' needs to satellite data for the disaster management, visited to Disaster Management Section, which is part of Ministry of Home Affairs in India and Nepal. In India, the Director and Officer of satellite agency attended the meeting. In Nepal, experts for disaster response and planning departments attended the meeting. ADRC gave a status update on the Sentinel Asia Project and shared ideas about specific ways that satellite images can be (or are being) used in disaster mitigation activities in each country.

(2013/1/8 13:40)

ADRC DRR Policy Peer Review FY2012

14-21 December 2012, ARMENIA

This year, DRR Education in Armenia was selected as one of the target projects of the fourth year. After the submission of country report, reviewer team composed of Ph.D. Aiko Sakurai (Associate Professor, Graduate School of International Cooperation Studies, Kobe University, Japan), Ph.D. Vishnu Dangol (Professor of Geology, Tribhuvan University, Nepal) and Mr. Junji Moriwaki (Researcher of ADRC) had visited Armenia to conduct interview surveys.

The team visited National Survey for Seismic Protection Agency and other organizations involving in DRR Education activities to examine how they have been making efforts of developing DRR Education in Armenia. Then, the team conducted inspection of classes and evacuation drills at the school of Yerevan and Gyumri, and prepared a draft report of the survey result with all findings and recommendations. Also the workshop was held in two cities for getting opinion and comments to finalize the report as well as introducing good practices for DRR Education activities in Japan and Nepal. It provided a very good opportunity for exchanging opinions each other.

ADRC would like to express its sincerest gratitude to all of those who have made precious contribution to this project.

(2012/12/14 19:40)

Forum and research on Sichuan Earthquake Recovery

14-16 May,　2012 (Sichuan Province, China)

The Forum on "Successful Reconstruction - Looking into the Future - A Discussion on Disaster Reconstruction and Development Strategy in the Beichuan Earthquake Ruin Area" was organized by Sichuan University and IRP/ADRC on 14th May in Chengdu, Sichuan. It was almost 4 years after the Sichuan Earthquake(12th May 2008). More than 50 delegates from abroad, government and academe participated in the forum and had a fruitful discussion on the post disaster recovery issues including establishment of new Beichuan Earthquake Museum and mechanism for promoting international cooperation based on the lessons from the Sichuan Earthquake.
After the forum, the IRP/ADRC team visited disaster affected sites to understand the recovery process during the past 4 years. In particular, the team visited (i) the Beichuan Earthquake Museum construction site, (ii) Shiyi village located in a high mountainous area of Qiang autonomous region, (iii) Jina village, which is famous for its ethnic style reconstruction houses, (iv) New Beichuan Town, which is a relocation case from disaster affected old town, and (v) other towns and villages.
Based on the findings from the field survey and interviews, IRP/ADRC will compile a report on good practices on recovery from the Earthquake.

(2012/05/29 14:00)

ADRC DRR Policy Peer Review FY2011

11-17 February 2012 (Dushanbe, Tajikistan)

Since 2009, ADRC has initiated a pilot project of DR Policy Peer Review with the aim of developing DRR capacity of ADRC member countries by sharing information and strengthening the relationship among member countries. This year Tajikistan was selected as target country for the review project of the third year. After the submission of country report, reviewer team had visited target countries to conduct interview surveys.

The ADRC reviewer team, composed of Prof. Hiroshi Fukuoka (Associate Professor, Research Center on Landslides Disaster Prevention Research Institute, Kyoto University), Dr. Tai-Hoon Kim (Analyst, National Disaster Management Institute, Ministry of Public Administration and Security, Republic of Korea), Mr. R.M.S. Bandara (Head, Landslide Studies & Services Division, National Building Research Organisation, Ministry of Disaster Management, Sri Lanka) and Ms. Miki Kodama, senior researcher of the ADRC visited Dushanbe, Tajikistan. The team visited various ministries and institutions involving in landslide DRR activities, including Committee of Emergency Situation (ADRC's counterpart in Tajikistan), to examine how they have been making the efforts for reducing landslide disasters by government and non-governmental organizations in Tajikistan. Then, the team conducted field survey at the affected area by the 2009 large-scale landslide disaster in Khuroson district, and prepared a draft report of the survey result with all findings and recommendations. A workshop was held for getting opinion and comments to finalize the report as well as introducing good practices for landslide DRR in Japan, Republic of Korea, and Sri Lanka. It provided a very good opportunity for exchanging opinions each other.

This project aims at developing the mutual learning process among the ADRC member countries instead of one-way learning. After the survey missions, reviewer teams will compile survey reports and send them to target countries and then to ADRC member countries to enhance cross-fertilization.

ADRC would like to express its sincerest gratitude to all of those who have made precious contribution to this project this year.

(2012/02/13 10:40)

Consultation with various organizations concerning the 2011 Thai ｆloods

6 December 2011 (Thailand)

Asian Disaster Reduction Center started consultation with relevant orgnizations to explore possible and appropriate cooperation activities in recovery process from the devastating floods in Thailand. Please refer to the ADRC Highlights Vol. 225 at http://www.adrc.asia/highlights/NewsNo225.

(2011/12/06 13:10)

Study on the use of ICT for disaster preparedness and response

29 August -1 September 2011 Honai, Hue and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

As part of an ongoing study on the use of ICT for disaster preparedness and response in ASEAN countries, ADRC has recently visited Hanoi, Hue and Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam to interview experts at various government's institutions, including Vietnam Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Department and Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, and collect information relevant to this subject.

The use of ICT for disaster preparedness and response has been making a steady progress in Vietnam, in particular weather forecasting and monitoring, risk assessment and risk mapping, early warning to communities and people, etc. Moreover, state-of-art ICT technologies have been widely applied such as broadband networking of observation stations and automatic communication by mobile phone, but mostly on an experimental basis.

While good progress has been made for typical meteorological and hydrological hazards such as typhoon and flooding, relatively less progress has been made for landslide, flash flood, and geological hazards such as earthquake and tsunami. Among them, tsunami warning system (towers) has recently been developed in Da Nang city in Central Vietnam, but more has to be done in view of future tsunami risks in its long coastal line. Likewise, disaster preparedness and response capacity could be further enhanced if it would make more use of such ICT technologies as information sharing system among various institutions, remote sensing, imaging system, real-time measurement sensor, etc.

The result of the study will be used as a basis on which further cooperation is planned. We appreciate greatly kind cooperation extended by the Disaster Management Center (DMC) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

(2011/9/2 13:10)

The International Conference and the GLOF Project in Bhutan

12-14 December 2010 (Thimphu, Bhutan)

The International Conference on Disaster Management and Cultural Heritage "Living in Harmony with the Four Elements" was held on 12-14 December 2010 in Thimphu, Bhutan. This was the first large-scale international conference to be held in Bhutan; it attracted 55 international participants from 23 countries, as well as 98 participants from around Bhutan, including His Excellency the Prime Minister Lyonchhen Jigmi Y. Thinley, and Ms. Margarita Wahlstrom, the United Nations' Assistant Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction and Special Representative of the Secretary General for the implementation of the Hyogo Framework for Action. This conference was organized by the Department of Disaster Management and the Department of Culture, Ministry of Home and Cultural Affairs, Bhutan, and was supported by UN/ISDR, UNESCO, UNDP, GFDRR, and the World Bank. During this conference, participants discussed the following five themes. The results are reported in the Thimphu Document. a. Policy and Institutional Framework for Disaster Management b. Technical Aspects of Disaster Management c. Traditional Practices for Disaster Risk Reduction d. Post-Disaster Recovery of Cultural Heritage e. Capacity Building and Networking This document will be reported to the next Global Platform in Geneva on 8-13 May 2011, and the Climate Summit for a Living Himalayas Bhutan 2011. The ADRC dispatched Mr. Masaru Arakida, Senior Researcher, to introduce historical disaster management techniques and community-based early warning systems, and to propose an implementation strategy for Bhutan.

After the conference, he visited Punakha and paid a courtesy call on the provincial governor, investigated damages caused by flooding in 2009, and visited candidate sites for rain gauges along the upstream areas of the Mo-chu River. ADRC will hold a workshop on disaster education and disaster drills for residents, including students and monks, in the Mo-chu area, and also will hold a class to teach people how to make rain and river gauges that can be managed by the local community.

(2010/12/15 16:40)

Project on Transfer of Disaster Management Measures of Japan to Enhance DRR Capacity in Asia 2010

1-9, 18-22, December, 2010

Through many of natural disasters experiences, Japan has accumulated knowledge of dealing with disasters and developed its expertise together with advanced policies and technologies in the area of disaster risk reduction. This unique experience provides Japan with many valuable knowledge and expertise that it must now endeavor to share effectively with other members of the international community. From this point of view, this project is launched by the Cabinet Office of Japanese Government last year. Mongolia and Indonesia were selected as target countries of the FY2010 project. The ADRC dispatched mission teams to those two countries to discuss the details of the project activities, including determination of the work schedule.

On 1-9 December 2010, the ADRC team visited Mongolia and conducted preliminary survey for the proposed project activities on earthquake disaster education. The team visited National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), two target schools to conduct disaster drill, and other related organizations. Through discussion, the ADRC and NEMA agreed to have pre-training course in Japan at the end of January 2011, and to have workshop of earthquake disaster education in the middle of February 2011.

On 19-22 December 2010, the ADRC team visited Indonesia to learn detailed ideas on the promotion of disaster education to mass media, the project theme proposed by Indonesia. They concerns mass media casualties caused by pyroclastic flows of Mt. Merapi eruption, and inadequate Tsunami early warning information distribution. The team visited the Indonesian National Board for Disaster Management (BNPB) and The Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI), and interviewed some mass media. Through the discussion, the ADRC and BNPB agreed to have training course in Japan and workshop in Jakarta in February or March 2011. Also, we agreed to conduct survey on mass media's awareness on natural disaster before the workshop.

Earthquake Disaster Reduction for West Sumatra

28 September - 2 October (Padang, Indonesia)

Large-scale inter-plate earthquakes have occurred recurrently in Indonesia, particularly around Sumatra Island, but it has been reported by many experts that such an earthquake is likely to happen off Padang in West Sumatra within thirty years or so.

To prepare for such large-scale earthquakes, it is of urgent need to establish early-warning and transmission system, development of practical technologies for reduction of building vulnerability and community-based disaster risk management. Hence, two day workshop on 29 and 30 September was organised which coincided with one-year commemoration of the Padang Earthquake on 30 September 2009.

The National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS), the National Research Institute for Earthquake Science and Disaster Prevention (NIED) and the Asian Disaster Reduction Center (ADRC) from Japan, and the Metrological, Climatology and Geophysical Agency (BMKG), the Institute Technology Bandung (ITB) and Andalas University (UNAND) from Indonesia, among others, jointed the workshop.

As a result of discussion, it reached a consensus that future collaboration should focus on three substantive areas, namely early warning for earthquakes, practical technologies for reduction of building vulnerability and community-based disaster risk management. (2010/10/4 13:10)

IRP research on Sichuan Earthquake Recovery

23-27 May (Sichuan Province, China)

IRP visited the site of the 2008 Sichuan Earthquake to study the current recovery status and conduct a field survey about the role of the local community in the recovery process over the last 2 years.
After meeting with reprsentaives of the Civil Affairs Department of Sichuan Provincial Government to learn the government policies on recovery and reconstruction including the Twinning Assistance Program, the research team composed of IRP staff members accompanied by the provincial government officials visited Penghua village located in Mianzhu City. This visit aimed examine the current situation as well as explore the role of local industries, especially wall painting and silk embroidery in the post disaster livelihood recovery process. The team also visited the "Mianzhu Wall Painting Training Center" which was constructed under the Jiangsu Twinning Assistance Program. The team interviewed the village head of Penghua Village, and some local residents regarding the current situation of earthquake recovery.
Then, the research team visited other severely affected areas including Beichuan region, which is home to the ethnic Qiang people. The team interviewed several residents in Jina village where the stone houses are constructed according to the ethnic Qiang traditional style, and also interviewed residents in Shiyi Village located in a high mountainous area where people are engaged in ethnic tourism business especially after the earthquake.
Based on the findings from this field survey and interviews, IRP is now compiling a report titled "International Comparison of Community Governance" which will be of great use for government policy makers engaging in post disaster recovery across countries.

(2010/06/04 14:00)

IRP Engages CDP to Document Lessons from Leyte

15 April 2010 (Manila)

IRP facilitated coordination meetings with the Center for Disaster Preparedness (CDP) and the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) in the Philippines to document recovery lessons from Leyte Landslide of 2006. CDP is a resource center that works with NGOs, people's organizations, communities, and government agencies to enhance capacities in disaster preparedness, mitigation, emergency response, and recovery while NDCC is the national platform for disaster preparedness and emergency response. The meeting with CDP was held at CDP Conference Room, College of Social Work and Community Development (CSWCD) building, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City. In that meeting, IRP presented the rationale for developing the recovery status report and emphasized the importance of highlighting innovative practices and experience to generate knowledge build-up in recovery. The report will be used as part of the resources in developing the "Guidance Notes for Recovery", which is intended for national and local government to ensure "build back better". One important output of the meeting is the signing of contract between CDP and IRP/ADRC.
After meeting CDP, IRP paid courtesy visits to NDCC and Office of Civil Defense (OCD) to inform these offices of the project. IRP coordinates closely with these government offices to draw more inputs and make the recovery status report more useful to decision-makers and practitioners. The visits resulted in NDCC and OCD's expression of support to the project, especially in organizing a "national consultation" scheduled in November 2010, where concerned stakeholders in the Philippines will be gathered to validate and improve the recovery status report.

(2010/04/27 14:00)

Follow-up Survey on Emergency Observation by Satellite in Vietnam

1-4 March 2010 (Hanoi, Vietnam)

Sentinel Asia (https://sentinel.tksc.jaxa.jp) implemented the emergency observation by satellite and provided the satellite image date, upon the request from Remote Sensing center, Ministry of Natural Resource and Environment, Vietnam, in response to the flood that occurred in central Vietnam in September 2009.
In order to survey how the provided satellite image data was utilized for disaster response and immediate recovery, ADRC in cooperation with JAXA has conducted the hearing survey to the staff of member the Remote Sensing Center and conducted the field survey to compare the provided satellite image data and actual situation of observed area by satellite.
The results of this survey will be used to the further promote and the disaster management.

(2010/03/30 13:20)

JICA follow-up survey of the training course of Disaster Control for Central America

El Salvador, Nicaragua, Guatemala

February 28 - March 12, 2010

ICA conducted a follow-up survey for ex-participants of the training course of Disaster Control for Central America, which has been taking place in Japan every year since 2000.

Although Central American countries are not ADRC member countries, one ADRC senior researcher joined this survey mission in Central America to evaluate the training course, and to learn current efforts which have been taken by them after joining the training course in order to gain good inputs for ADRC's similar training courses.

Many ex-participants said that they had learned the spirits and culture of disaster management (BOSAI) in Japan, such as focusing more on prevention rather than response, integration of disaster risk reduction into school education, high awareness of communities and individuals for disaster risk reduction, and efforts to hand over the lesson learned from the past disasters to next generation. And learning from these experiences in Japan, they have been conducting various activities after their return home.

On the other hand, following things are pointed out as the issues to be improved; 1) too many lectures on the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, 2) less lectures of other disasters, 3) less interactive sessions, 4) not enough time for the questions & answers session, 5) a few chances to visits communities, 6) less time for discussion among participants for their own experiences and what they learned in Japan, 7) some handouts are not translated to Spanish, 8) too much time for interpretation, 9) training schedule should be set for certain period of time every day.

And they recommended the following points for the future training course, 1) the training should be linked to HFA and regional disaster reduction plan in Central America, 2) there should be a good communication with ex-participants when nominating new participants and conducting pre-course lectures, 3) Action plans should be developed in concrete and achievable manners, 4) Action plans should be introduced in a meeting right after their return home, 5) all documents in the training course should be distributed in digital data, 6) there should be some opportunities and places to exchange information and experiences among ex-participants, 7) the second phase training course should be developed for ex-participants after they conducted various activities.

JICA will make a final report shortly including the interview result to the ex-participants.

(2010/3/25 16:40)

Follow-up Survey on Emergency Observation by Satellite in the Philippines

1-3 December 2009 (Manila, Philippines)

The ADRC has been collaborating with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) to promote a disaster reduction project using satellite imaging data in the Asian region.
On September 26, Typhoon Ketsana (Japan Meteorology Agency designation: No. 16) swept across the Central Luzon in the Philippines. The typhoon brought the extremely heavy rainfall to Metro Manila or the National Capital Region resulting in extensive flood damages..
Upon request from the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), ADRC coordinated the emergency observation by earth observation satellite agencies and then satellite data was provided to PHIVOLCS by Sentinel Asia.
The ADRC mission visited PHIVOLCS, Office of Civil Defense, National Disaster Management Center and Mines & Geosciences Bureau to conduct a follow-up survey on the use of the satellite data. The mission also conducted a on-site survey to compare the satellite image with actual situation in Metro Manila.

(2009/12/04 17:30)

ERRP Pull Down Experiment

10-18 October 2009 (Kathmandu, Nepal)

The Asian Disaster Reduction Center has been carefully planned and prepared "Pull Down Test" for the last one year as a big event of "Earthquake Risk Reduction and Recovery Preparedness Program for the South Asian Region". The first "Pull Down Test" of the existing non-retrofitted building was conducted on 15 October in Katmandu, Nepal.
This time, a 30-years old existing building was pulled until falling. The main purposes of the experiment are to enhance awareness of the threat of earthquake by observing actual situation how the building is collapsed when a big earthquake occurs, and also to examine the strength of an old house. Further, we will conduct the second "Pull Down Test" on 2 November for the purpose of verifying the effectiveness of the retrofitting by the JAKETTING method.
Many participants from Nepal government, United Nations, the ERRP member countries, and local communities observed the result of the experiment with particular interst. As the tensility was carefully enlarged, the cracks on the wall of the house became bigger, and finally the house was collapsed in a moment. The participants could realize well the vulnerability of the existing buildings to the big earthquakes. Further, local newspapers covered the event giving a great deal of space, which contributed to raiging people's awareness of disasters.

(2009/10/22 19:10)

Mission to Padang and Pariaman, West Sumatra, Indonesia

4-8 October 2009(Padang, Indonesia)

ADRC sent a team of two senior researchers to Indonesia to make an immediate assessment of areas stricken by the earthquake of 30th September off Sumatra Island. Mr. Masaru Arakida and Mr. Tetsuo Ibaraki, both from ADRC, visited Padang City, Pariaman City, Padang-Pariaman District of West Sumatra Province from 5 to 7 October 2009. Their primary objective was to explore how ADRC and other relevant organization could help disaster stricken areas recover and rebuild their communities based on their assessment. The following is a snapshot of the mission.

report_in_indonesia_1009E.pdf

（2009/10/22 16:40)

Survey of recovery status on Gujarat Earthquake

1-4 August 2009 (India)

International Recovery Platform (IRP) Secretariat visited Gujarat State, India to survey recovery status on Gujarat Earthquake (Jan. 2001) . The survey includes observing Relocation Sites and collecting fruitful information through meeting with local government officials and NGOs which are implementing recovery programs.

Further information about the survey shall be uploaded in the IRP website. (http://www.recoveryplatform.org/)

(2009/08/01 14:20)

Joint ERRP-IRP Regional Workshop in New Delhi, India

29-31 July 2009 (New Delhi, India)

The International Recovery Platform (IRP), UNDP-India, ADRC, NDMA-India, and SDMC jointly organized the Regional Conference on Earthquake Risk Reduction held at India International Centre, New Delhi, India on July 29-31, 2009. Over 200 participants, including representatives from Earthquake Risk Reduction and Recovery Preparedness Programme (ERRP) country teams, technical experts, practitioners, and relevant stakeholders, gathered during the three-day to discuss experiences, share knowledge, and facilitate technical cooperation.
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(2009/08/12 14:00)

ADRC joined the JICA mission in Bangladesh

28 February - 19 March 2009 (Dhaka, Bangladesh)

JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) started the survey to formulate the comprehensive support program for Bangladesh where it has suffered many natural hazards. The program may include some yes-loan-financed projects. The survey focuses on water management including flood and cyclone and earthquake management as a sub-sector. Based on the survey, some projects which require urgent implementations would be considered and formulated when necessarily. The duration of the survey mission in Bangladesh is from 28th Feb to 19th March. Koji Suzuki, Executive Director of Asian Disaster Reduction Center participated in the survey mission. The mission visited the Ministry of Food and Disaster Management that is the Bangladesh counterpart government organization of Asian Disaster Reduction Center and Bangladesh Disaster Preparedness Center that Asian Disaster Reduction Center has long been working with. The mission had meetings at Ministry of Water Resource, Dhaka Geophysical Observatory, Dhaka Fire Brigade, BRAC University, Bangladesh University of Engineering & Technology, UNDP and ADB. It also made some filed surveys on construction sites in Dhaka guided by Public Works Department and some river sites.

(2009/03/12 13:10)

Survey Report on Sichuan Earthquake

25-30 May, 2008 (Sichuan, China)

The Asian Disaster Reduction Center (ADRC), in cooperation with the Disaster Reduction and Human Renovation Institution (DRI), investigated ways for the lessons and experiences of the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake with regard to recovery and restoration of disaster-stricken areas to be utilized in response to the Sichuan Province Earthquake that struck Wenchuan County in China's Sichuan Province (GLIDE no. EQ-2008-000062-CHN) on 12 May 2008. To conduct this investigation, ADRC Senior Researchers spent 25-30 May visiting the cities of Dujiangyan and Mianzhu in the disaster-stricken area to assess the situation on the ground and to share nformation with officials from the Sichuan Provincial People's Government, the China Earthquake Administration, and the National Disaster Reduction Center (NDRC) of the Ministry of Civil Affairs.

Further information, please refer to : http://www.adrc.asia/highlights/NewsNo183

(2008/06/03 20:00)

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