US Chamber of Commerce President Thomas Donohue (2nd R), US Pacific Command Chief of Staff Rear Admiral Robin Watters (3rd R), US agency of International Development Assistant Administrator Nancy Lindborg(3rd L), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Director of External Affairs Andy Winer (2nd L) and University of Hawaii PresidentMRC Greenwood, signing the joint statement at the Sheraton Waikiki. Picture: BT/Goh De No
Sunday, November 13, 2011
THE public and private sectors signed a joint statement of intent at Apecto strengthen regional disaster risk reduction and resilience, following US Secretary of State's High-Level Policy Dialogue on Disaster Resiliency yesterday.
The Asia-Pacific Disaster Risk Reduction and Resilient Collaboration joint statement, which was signed by nine organisations at the Sheraton Waikiki, intends to use public private partnership as means to help save lives, ensure economic vitality, and enhance human well-being across the region.
The members also urged more organisations from Apec members to get on-board with their effort to reduce disaster risks and increase resilience in the the Asia-Pacific region.
MRC Greenwood, System President of the University of Hawaii (UH), said that UH has offered to host this initiative, and believed that with its strong connections (and location) throughout the region, will be able to make it as home of the initiative.
"In Japan, regardless of how prepared or how strong, the importance there is the ability to sustain and recover after a disaster," she said.
The US Agency for International Development's (USAID) Assistant Administrator Nancy Lindborg said that the initiative was important especially because of disasters happening more frequently in this densely populated world, especially in the Asia-Pacific region.
"This won't eliminate disaster, but it helps continuous progress on how to address them," she said, adding, "We have also launched an online tool on how to map and respond to disasters."
Thomas Donohue, president of the US Chamber of Commerce, said with the private sector on board, they bring along a unique capability and resource to the table.
He said that with a 24-7 news cycle, more disasters are being seen, so the greater question is whether more disasters are happening, and why.
Secretary of State, Hillary Rodham Clinton, said that yesterday, she chaired two high-level policydialogues on critical issues, disaster resilience and open governance, and held bi-lateral meetings with several countries including China, Japan, Australia, Indonesia, and Vietnam.
"We discussed a full range of issues from our economic partnerships to our security challenges to our shared humanitarian concerns. In particular, I expressed solidarity with our ally and friend, Thailand, as it contends with the worse flooding in the nation's history," she said.
A release from Apec ministers and senior government officials on the High Level Policy Dialogue on Disaster Resiliency, said that bearing the earthquake and tsunami on March 11 in Japan; the wildfires, typhoons and tornadoes in the region; and recent floods in Thailand, is a reminder that the region is highly prone to impacts of natural disasters.
The statement added that Apec, through its strong networks in the business sector, has a comparative advantage in encouraging greater private sector participation in disaster preparedness and resiliency efforts.
The Brunei Times
Source:- http://www.bt.com.bn/news-asia/2011/11/13/joint-efforts-reduce-disaster-risks
November 9, 2011 by admin
Filed under News Bites
FedEx Express, a subsidiary of FedEx Corp, has delivered 1,000 shelter tool kits to earthquake victims in Sikkim. The initiative to offer shelter relief to affected families was organised in collaboration with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and the Indian Red Cross Society (IRCS).
FedEx Express transported the aid weighing approximately 25,000 pounds from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to Delhi, India using the A310 aircraft. The kits were delivered to the IRCS representatives in Sikkim by a special ground delivery.
The relief aid of 1,000 shelter toolkits included tools and hardware that will enable victims and aid workers to help repair and reconstruct damaged and destroyed homes. The shelter kits were provided to the IRCS by the IFRC, and funded by the international organization’s Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF).
“The damage caused by the September earthquake in the Himalayan region necessitated an immediate humanitarian response. FedEx is honored to offer its humble support to victims of Sikkim. By delivering the shelter tool kits to affected families in the region, we stand in solidarity with our trusted partners, India Red Cross Society and the IFRC, as they honorably assist the community’s reconstruction process,” said Kenneth F. Koval, vice president, Operations, FedEx Express India.
“The earthquake in the Himalayan region has damaged and destroyed homes across four countries creating an emergency situation in hard-to-access regions,” said John Roche, Head of the IFRC’s India office. “Thanks to the assistance of FedEx, these shelter tool kits will help many who have been left homeless in Sikkim rebuild their lives.”
“The families in Sikkim needed urgent assistance in a difficult situation and FedEx is glad that we can leverage our infrastructure and network to provide them speedy access to these much-needed relief supplies,” said Ramesh Kumar Singam, managing director, Federal Express Malaysia and Brunei.
FedEx Express maintains a longstanding commitment to disaster relief. The company donated more than five million pounds (approximately 2,300 tons) of charitable shipping last year alone, equivalent to 87 Boeing 757 aircraft of donated aid.
Flood Update IX from Water Initiatives Odisha
25th September 2011
Flood situation in Northern Odisha rivers still grim
Dear Friends/Co-sailors,
The flood woes of Northern Odisha rivers have worsened since we sent our 8th Flood Update on 23rd September. As per the latest report available from govt. sources, 8 districts (Anugl, Balasore, Bhadrak, Dhenkanal, Jajpur, Keonjhar, Kendrapada and Mayurbhanj) have been affected by the latest spell of the disaster. However, what the govt. report misses out is the flood in Sundergarh and Deogarh districts. Media houses and other sources have reported massive flood damages in these two districts too.
As we compile this update at 2 pm on 25th September, 2011, the latest update on Floods released by the Orissa State Disaster Mitigation Authority (OSDMA) mentions that more than 1.5 million people have been affected by these floods; 7 people have died and more than 3 lakh livestock have been affected. What is important to note here is that, in the earlier spell of floods, the final report for which was compiled and released by the Govt. the total livestock damage was only 1667. However, this time it has crossed more than 3 lakhs. The number of marooned villages has been put at 992. While 2362 villages in 510 Gram Panchayats of 46 Blocks of the 8 reported districts have been affected; the urban habitations affected have been reported at 47 Wards in 8 Urban Local Bodies. You can get the complete list at http://www.osdma.org/Download/Flood_2011Update_Status_240911.pdf. However, we are sure; the real figure of damages is much more since the OSDMA report does not take into account the affected figures in Sundergarh and Deogarh districts.
As the rivers of Northern Odisha flood yet again, the debate around Flood Control and Management abilities of Dams have resurfaced. In the LEAD section of this Update, we have given some basic analysis of how the Rengali dam has not been properly managed and we have argued how it has become UTMOST ESSENTIAL to prepare a Flood Management Policy for the government that takes care of several integrated issues like sound flood forecasting, river basin management pithing in co-ordinated action with people and states involved, and the need for Flood Plain management. While we keep the note in the LEAD section brief, a detailed note on the Rengali dam and flood management has been attached to this update.
Then we have our regular NEWS, STATS and METSPEAKS sections in this short update.
Once again, we would like to inform you that, at the moment, it’s occasional and we may come up with these updates as and when we can, given our limited manpower and resources. However, with your inputs and support, we are sure; we shall be able to ensure regular flow of this update.
We request you to send in your reports of activities, your views; and any other interesting and relevant article, books, photographs, and anything that you feel we should cover in this Update. It’s YOU who is the most important FUEL of this effort.
This Update is also available at:
http://climatecrusaders.blogspot.com/2011/09/flood-update-ix-of-2011-on-odisha.html
and
http://www.scribd.com/doc/66271406/Flood-Update-IX-From-WIO-25th-September-2011
Look forward to listen from you and your continued support.
Thanks and regards,
Ranjan Panda
Convenor, Water Initiatives Odisha
STOP PRESS: By the time we despatch this Update, reports had started coming in from govt. sources that the flood devastation has affected about 2.2 million people already. The loss of live has been counted at 17 and affected livestock has already gone up to more than 4 lakh. We shall post the detailed information in our next update.
/uploads/file/Flood%20Update%20IX%20from%20WIO%20-%2025th%20September%202011.pdf
