PRESS CONFERENCE BY SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR DISASTER RISK REDUCTION
It pays to be well prepared, particularly where natural hazards and disaster risk reduction were concerned, the top United Nations official responsible for mitigating disaster risks worldwide, said today.
Addressing correspondents at a Headquarters press conference on the upcoming one-year anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake on March 11 2011, Margareta Wahlström, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction, said Japan had shown the world that despite the major tragedy it had suffered on that day, prevention and preparedness paid off. “Building codes pay, early warning systems pay, it saves lives. Drills, training, public education and awareness also pay off and save lives,” she said.
If none of those things had been consistently implemented in Japan as they had been for decades, last year’s horror would have been much worse, Ms. Wahlström asserted. A remarkable testimony to the quality of the buildings was the fact that the tsunami, and not the earthquake, had been responsible for the main destruction to the buildings. Today, the main focus remained on the interaction between assets — in this case, the nuclear power plants and similar industries, such as the petro-chemical industry — with the potential to damage the environment.
She said there were many lessons learned from last year’s earthquake, and the marking of its first anniversary in a few days was an opportunity to again recognize the importance of Japanese education about disasters over hundreds of years, and to drive the work globally that was being done in the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR) on how to reduce disaster risk in order to preserve the development assets of countries and communities.
The world had learnt, for instance, that the Japan disaster was one of the most globally destructive in history, she said. Last year was the peak year of disaster loses so far in recorded history, with total losses at a staggering $380 billion at least, two thirds higher than the previous record with Hurricane Katrina. The losses last year mainly stemmed from earthquakes in Japan and New Zealand, she said, explaining that earthquakes were the costliest and deadliest of disasters. In addition to those, the world had also experienced several other major events, including flooding in Thailand and many other countries.
“So the main message is that this is an increasing — and very rapidly increasing — trend, with increasingly economic losses,” she stated. Globally, the disaster mortality was proportionally declining because countries were getting much better at early warning systems and preparedness. But the economics of disasters was becoming a major threat to several countries, and today, 50 per cent of the world’s population lived in highly vulnerable areas and was thus exposed to hazards and disaster risk.
Read the detailed press briefing at :- http://www.cdrn.org.in/show.detail.asp?id=23335
Monday, March 12, 2012
Delhi to get major boost in disaster management; Army report awaited
The Delhi Government is awaiting a report by the Army, which had conducted a third-party evaluation of the mega mock drill carried out by the National Disaster Management Authority in Delhi on February 15, to finalise its plans for setting up a major emergency operation centre for disaster management and procurement of essential equipment.
“The Army had minutely monitored the mock drill and its report is expected soon. The Delhi Government had also carried out its own appraisal which revealed that there were several areas on which we need to act fast. I am sure now that the ball has been set rolling, things would move fast once the Army report also comes in,” said Divisional Commissioner and Secretary (Revenue and Delhi Disaster Management Authority) Vijay Dev talking to The Hindu on Monday.
According to Mr. Dev, the disaster management scenario in Delhi is due for a complete facelift. “We intend setting up an Emergency Operation Centre which would be housed in an earthquake-proof building. It would connect the Divisional Commissioner and all the nine Deputy Commissioners in the revenue districts with the ambulance, hospital, fire and police services through a computerised system. This system would be global positioning system (GPS) enabled, have an online connectivity and various maps to guide the personnel and officials during an emergency.”
The EOC would also provide a complete link-up to the emergency vehicles services. “All agencies would also be brought on the same frequency through a dedicated communication system. At present we are using the Tetra sets but a new system would be required soon as it is not sufficient,” Mr. Dev said.
The official said the communication system would have to meet the needs of all the agencies, some of which like the Delhi Police do not wish to share all their communications with the rest. “So it would have at least one common frequency for all ‘emergency support functionaries' to communicate at the time of an emergency or disaster. Apart from that they would also be able to have their own secured frequencies.”
Read in detail at :- http://www.cdrn.org.in/show.detail.asp?id=23336
“The Army had minutely monitored the mock drill and its report is expected soon. The Delhi Government had also carried out its own appraisal which revealed that there were several areas on which we need to act fast. I am sure now that the ball has been set rolling, things would move fast once the Army report also comes in,” said Divisional Commissioner and Secretary (Revenue and Delhi Disaster Management Authority) Vijay Dev talking to The Hindu on Monday.
According to Mr. Dev, the disaster management scenario in Delhi is due for a complete facelift. “We intend setting up an Emergency Operation Centre which would be housed in an earthquake-proof building. It would connect the Divisional Commissioner and all the nine Deputy Commissioners in the revenue districts with the ambulance, hospital, fire and police services through a computerised system. This system would be global positioning system (GPS) enabled, have an online connectivity and various maps to guide the personnel and officials during an emergency.”
The EOC would also provide a complete link-up to the emergency vehicles services. “All agencies would also be brought on the same frequency through a dedicated communication system. At present we are using the Tetra sets but a new system would be required soon as it is not sufficient,” Mr. Dev said.
The official said the communication system would have to meet the needs of all the agencies, some of which like the Delhi Police do not wish to share all their communications with the rest. “So it would have at least one common frequency for all ‘emergency support functionaries' to communicate at the time of an emergency or disaster. Apart from that they would also be able to have their own secured frequencies.”
Read in detail at :- http://www.cdrn.org.in/show.detail.asp?id=23336
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
United Nations looking for more countries to follow New Zealand's lead Read more: http://www.3news.co.nz/United-Nations-looking-for-more-countries-to
A year after the devastating Christchurch earthquake the country is still taking stock of the lessons that have been learned from dealing with such a disaster.
New Zealand is internationally renowned for disaster planning and prevention and the issue will be discussed at an international conference which is about to get underway in Wellington.
One of those attending is Jonathan Andrews from the United Nations Development Programme's Bureau for Crisis Prevention and Recovery.
He says Kiwis are among world-leaders in disaster preparedness.
“New Zealand is well up there in terms of exactly taking these issues to heart and being prepared. Very good search and rescue standards, very good building codes,” he says.
Mr Andrews also says New Zealand has a lot of integrity when it comes to applying such factors. But the UN are struggling to have other countries adopt a similar approach.
“Awareness is one of the issues but I think moreover its convincing nations with meagre budgets to invest in prevention, you can imagine the pressure on the public servants for building roads, for building water supplies… when a disaster hasn’t happened it’s a very tough sell,” he says
Read more: http://www.3news.co.nz/United-Nations-looking-for-more-countries-to-follow-New-Zealands-lead/tabid/423/articleID/245110/Default.aspx#ixzz1oKqF9D9j
New Zealand is internationally renowned for disaster planning and prevention and the issue will be discussed at an international conference which is about to get underway in Wellington.
One of those attending is Jonathan Andrews from the United Nations Development Programme's Bureau for Crisis Prevention and Recovery.
He says Kiwis are among world-leaders in disaster preparedness.
“New Zealand is well up there in terms of exactly taking these issues to heart and being prepared. Very good search and rescue standards, very good building codes,” he says.
Mr Andrews also says New Zealand has a lot of integrity when it comes to applying such factors. But the UN are struggling to have other countries adopt a similar approach.
“Awareness is one of the issues but I think moreover its convincing nations with meagre budgets to invest in prevention, you can imagine the pressure on the public servants for building roads, for building water supplies… when a disaster hasn’t happened it’s a very tough sell,” he says
Read more: http://www.3news.co.nz/United-Nations-looking-for-more-countries-to-follow-New-Zealands-lead/tabid/423/articleID/245110/Default.aspx#ixzz1oKqF9D9j
China develops system to predict earthquakes
Chinese scientists claimed to have developed a system to monitor the movement of the Earth’s crust and predict earthquakes.
The new system will be based on satellite navigation involving a network of 260 constant observing stations and 2,000 part-time observing stations with data-processing technology, according to the officials of the China Earthquake Administration said.
The new system will be used for weather forecasting and scientific research, among other purposes.
The 35 experts in charge of the project agreed that the outcome is a comprehensive, precise and versatile geoscientific resource, and that its information should be shared, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.
read in detail at :- http://www.cdrn.org.in/show.detail.asp?id=23322
The new system will be based on satellite navigation involving a network of 260 constant observing stations and 2,000 part-time observing stations with data-processing technology, according to the officials of the China Earthquake Administration said.
The new system will be used for weather forecasting and scientific research, among other purposes.
The 35 experts in charge of the project agreed that the outcome is a comprehensive, precise and versatile geoscientific resource, and that its information should be shared, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.
read in detail at :- http://www.cdrn.org.in/show.detail.asp?id=23322
UN kicks off discussions on new international blueprint for disaster risk reduction
The UN Special Representative for Disaster Risk Reduction, Margareta Wahlström, and HE Yoichi Otabe, the Japanese Ambassador to the International Organizations in Geneva, announced today the start of consultations on a new international blueprint for reducing disaster losses in advance of the World Conference on Disaster Reduction which the Japanese government is proposing to host in 2015.
The new framework for disaster risk reduction will build on the success of the Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA) 2005-2015: Building the Resilience of Nations and Communities in spreading a culture of disaster prevention around the globe. The Hyogo Framework was agreed at the World Conference on Disaster Reduction held in Kobe in Hyogo Prefecture in January 2005 on the tenth anniversary of the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake of 1995, and a month after the Asian tsunami.
Ms. Wahlström said: "As we look to the anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake on March 11, the start of consultations on the post-HFA framework is a suitable occasion on which to acknowledge the debt that the world owes to Japan when it comes to sharing its vast experience and knowledge of disaster risk reduction and preparedness.
"The learning from the Great East Japan Earthquake will be a vital contribution to preparing the world to meet the challenges of disaster risk in the urbanized, globalized world of the 21st century where a natural hazard can trigger a chain of catastrophic events impacting lives and livelihoods in tragic ways unless we are realistic in our assessment of risk and act accordingly."
Read in detail at :- http://www.cdrn.org.in/show.detail.asp?id=23330
The new framework for disaster risk reduction will build on the success of the Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA) 2005-2015: Building the Resilience of Nations and Communities in spreading a culture of disaster prevention around the globe. The Hyogo Framework was agreed at the World Conference on Disaster Reduction held in Kobe in Hyogo Prefecture in January 2005 on the tenth anniversary of the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake of 1995, and a month after the Asian tsunami.
Ms. Wahlström said: "As we look to the anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake on March 11, the start of consultations on the post-HFA framework is a suitable occasion on which to acknowledge the debt that the world owes to Japan when it comes to sharing its vast experience and knowledge of disaster risk reduction and preparedness.
"The learning from the Great East Japan Earthquake will be a vital contribution to preparing the world to meet the challenges of disaster risk in the urbanized, globalized world of the 21st century where a natural hazard can trigger a chain of catastrophic events impacting lives and livelihoods in tragic ways unless we are realistic in our assessment of risk and act accordingly."
Read in detail at :- http://www.cdrn.org.in/show.detail.asp?id=23330
UN-SPIDER supports Space Technology Applications in DRR
UN-SPIDER News
Fifth International UN-SPIDER Bonn Workshop
3rd Annual RSO Meeting conducted in Vienna
UN-SPIDER to carry out a Technical Advisory Mission to Tonga (20 – 26 March 2012)
Karoly Robert University of Hungary joins UN-SPIDER as an RSO
UN-SPIDER supports the Third Workshop on Space Technology Applications in Disaster-Risk Reduction and Emergency Response
VALID project update: Substantial scientific support.
European Seminar on Disaster Risk Management in Berlin.
UN-SPIDER participation in “Expert Group Meeting on Geo-reference Disaster Risk Management System in Asia-Pacific Region”, Bangkok, Thailand.
IGAC from Colombia becomes UN-SPIDER’s newest RSO
RSO News
Algeria inaugurated the Centre of Satellite Development (CDS)
ADRC conducted Training for Government Officials in Charge of DRM in Indonesia
RCMRD conducted “Workshop on Disaster Rapid mapping and International Charter Operations”
Iranian Space Agency, successfully launched the Navid-e-Elm and San'at (promise of Science and Technology) Satellite on February 3, 2012
Community News
Secure World Foundation organizes a Round Table on “the Future of GMES”
A new generation of meteorological satellites
Advanced Tool for Weather Forecasting Turned On Aboard NPP
SMOS water mission turns hurricane hunter
GMES: e-GEOS wins contracts from the European Commission to provide satellite data and maps for emergency management
Princeton system tracks drought to aid disaster relief
Esri and GeoEye Developing Global Crisis Response Service
Timely Upgrade of Weather Information Systems
Earth Observation and Tsunami Warning System Seen as Critical to Revitalizing Japan
Romantis Provides Turnkey Satellite Telemedicine Network to All-Russian Center for Disaster Medicine
ISRO sets ball rolling for Indian ‘GPS' / navigation system
SAFER is activated for Bulgaria and Algeria
The International Charter is activated for Algeria and Peru
Sentinel Asia is Activated for Philippines
Read in detail at :- http://www.cdrn.org.in/show.detail.asp?id=23331
Fifth International UN-SPIDER Bonn Workshop
3rd Annual RSO Meeting conducted in Vienna
UN-SPIDER to carry out a Technical Advisory Mission to Tonga (20 – 26 March 2012)
Karoly Robert University of Hungary joins UN-SPIDER as an RSO
UN-SPIDER supports the Third Workshop on Space Technology Applications in Disaster-Risk Reduction and Emergency Response
VALID project update: Substantial scientific support.
European Seminar on Disaster Risk Management in Berlin.
UN-SPIDER participation in “Expert Group Meeting on Geo-reference Disaster Risk Management System in Asia-Pacific Region”, Bangkok, Thailand.
IGAC from Colombia becomes UN-SPIDER’s newest RSO
RSO News
Algeria inaugurated the Centre of Satellite Development (CDS)
ADRC conducted Training for Government Officials in Charge of DRM in Indonesia
RCMRD conducted “Workshop on Disaster Rapid mapping and International Charter Operations”
Iranian Space Agency, successfully launched the Navid-e-Elm and San'at (promise of Science and Technology) Satellite on February 3, 2012
Community News
Secure World Foundation organizes a Round Table on “the Future of GMES”
A new generation of meteorological satellites
Advanced Tool for Weather Forecasting Turned On Aboard NPP
SMOS water mission turns hurricane hunter
GMES: e-GEOS wins contracts from the European Commission to provide satellite data and maps for emergency management
Princeton system tracks drought to aid disaster relief
Esri and GeoEye Developing Global Crisis Response Service
Timely Upgrade of Weather Information Systems
Earth Observation and Tsunami Warning System Seen as Critical to Revitalizing Japan
Romantis Provides Turnkey Satellite Telemedicine Network to All-Russian Center for Disaster Medicine
ISRO sets ball rolling for Indian ‘GPS' / navigation system
SAFER is activated for Bulgaria and Algeria
The International Charter is activated for Algeria and Peru
Sentinel Asia is Activated for Philippines
Read in detail at :- http://www.cdrn.org.in/show.detail.asp?id=23331
Friday, March 2, 2012
Rs 650-cr flood control project for Bengal
The long-pending drainage basin project involving the Kaliaghai, Kapaleswari and Baghai rivers in the flood-prone East and West Midnapore districts in West Bengal has got the green signal.
The Rs 650.38-crore project for the two districts, which are struck by calamity almost every monsoon, was recently inaugurated by the Chief Minister, Ms Mamata Banerjee, who had taken a keen interest in its implementation.
The Union Finance Minister, Mr Pranab Mukherjee, was also present on the occasion.
The State's Irrigation Minister, Mr Manas Bhuniya, said, “The project will provide immense benefit to nearly 30 lakh people in the two districts by preventing inundation of their land.”
Read more at :- http://cdrn.org.in/show.detail.asp?id=23317
The Rs 650.38-crore project for the two districts, which are struck by calamity almost every monsoon, was recently inaugurated by the Chief Minister, Ms Mamata Banerjee, who had taken a keen interest in its implementation.
The Union Finance Minister, Mr Pranab Mukherjee, was also present on the occasion.
The State's Irrigation Minister, Mr Manas Bhuniya, said, “The project will provide immense benefit to nearly 30 lakh people in the two districts by preventing inundation of their land.”
Read more at :- http://cdrn.org.in/show.detail.asp?id=23317
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