Summary of the day's activities
The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) in cooperation with the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR), the Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC) and other International Organisations in Thailand commemorated the annual International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction (IDNDR 2007) on 10 October 2007 held at the United Nations Conference Center in Bangkok. IDNDR 2007 also aimed to highlight the findings of the Asia Pacific Regional Workshop on School Education and Disaster Risk Reduction (8 -10 October 2007), which served as a wake up call to redouble our efforts on the issue of “Education for Disaster Risk Reduction”.
Over 200 participants at this year's International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction heeded the United Nations Secretary General's call "to act now in building resilient communities and nations" in the face of climate change and our growing vulnerability to natural disasters. The Secretary General also urged "all concerned Governments, civil society and the private sector, international financial institutions and other international organizations to invest in disaster risk reduction and to step up implementation of the Hyogo Framework, with concrete measures to reduce vulnerability".
Following the Secretary General's message, Mr. Raj Kumar, Principal Officer of UNESCAP recounted the latest tragic natural disasters that plague our vast and diverse Asia Pacific region: "This year's devastating typhoons striking North-East Asia, severe flooding in China and Indonesia, 2006's severe flooding in Thailand, prolonged drought in Australia, earthquakes in Pakistan, Indonesia, and Japan are followed by the lingering scars of more tragic events in recent history including the December-2004 tsunami disaster all underscore the region's urgent need to address natural disaster risk reduction at every level". In linking to the theme of the Asia Pacific Regional Workshop on School Education and Disaster Risk Reduction (8 -10 October 2007), Mr. Kumar stressed that "children serve as crucial communication links to advocate on natural disaster risk reduction with their families and in their communities in the short-term and as a conduit to building a resilient and safe society for the future."
Voicing the United Nations concerns, Dr. Bhichit Rattakul, Executive Director a.i., of the Asia Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC); Mr. Suwit Khanikul, Deputy Director General, Department for Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, Royal Thai Government; and Dr. Raman Letchumanan, ASEAN Secretariat Representative all stressed that our region needs to do much more including taking further pro-active steps to address natural disasters before they happen with advocacy and education taking key roles.
Following the opening, IDNDR 2007 continued with a session on "Education as an essential component in reducing the socio economic impact of disasters".
 |
Assessment of Socio-economic Impacts of Natural Disasters: Basis for Education on Disaster Risk Management: Mr. Ti Le-Huu, Chief Sustainable Development and Water Resources Section, Environment and Development Division, UNESCAP |
|
|
|
Safer living: Out-reach Activities in Hong Kong: Mr. Eric Roeder on behalf of Dr. M.C. Wong, Assistant Director, Hong Kong Observatory and Campaign Manager. |
|
|
|
Formal Education for More Effective Disaster Reduction: Dr. Pennung Warnitchai Asian Institute of Technology |
|
|
| Session Summary of Messages |
|
To set the scene for discussion, Mr Ti Le-Huu, pointed out that impact of disaster shared both pitfalls and possible solutions to overcoming natural disasters in a proactive way. From the experiences of UNESCAP on the application of the method of assessment, developed by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) and subsequently adopted by the United Nations, the World Bank, ADB and JBIC for assessing impacts of the 2004 Tsunami Disaster, Mr. Ti noted that the indirect impacts of natural disasters (which had normally been ignored) were much higher than the direct impacts (20 to 100 per cent) and that total estimated economic impacts are mostly doubled.
During the session it was found that trends of disaster in terms of loss of lives and economic damage in the ESCAP region have rapidly increased in relation to other regions. ESCAP statistics show that annual economic loss increased: US$10.6 billion in the last five decades to US$29 billion in the last 15 years. Regional challenges show that most of the world's poor live in Asia and there is an obvious increasing of impacts of disaster on the poor. Also, there is increasing frequency of severe hydro-meteorological disasters. Recent regional experiences in assessment of socio-economic impacts bring to light that standardized templates could greatly facilitate rapid assessment of impacts.
Korea's National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), provides safety education at the primary school level to increase awareness of students via systematic safety education. The progamme takes students to institutions that work in public safety as well as visits to local fire stations. Primary schools also conduct safety inspection days each month to foster a safe school environment. This is extended to parents who gain education in home safety inspections.
In the area of public awareness on disaster risk reduction, the Hong Kong Observatory along with other key organizers set-up a community education programme via various public exhibitions and seminars on promoting public participation in reducing natural disasters. The education programme titled "Safer Living" attracted thousands of visitors. The Hong Kong Experience shows that the general public is active and eager in learning about disaster preparedness, if local authorities invest in engaging the public.
Beyond public awareness, there is also a call for more experts in the field of disaster risk reduction. Formal education for more effective disaster reduction is crucial to fill the gap in the Asia Pacific region where there is very limited capacity to respond to natural disasters. Attempting to fill the void, the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) now offers Masters and PhD programmes in Disaster Preparedness, Mitigation and Management. The aim of the programmes is to instill the necessary interdisciplinary capacities in people on the front lines of disaster response and preparedness.
Additional highlights of the session noted that literacy rates vary in our region and that written materials may not be useful, with Korea sharing an example where disaster reduction education is broadcast for five minutes each day on all stations. Thailand well known for its quick response to the 2004 tsunami, stressed that we focus on disaster response and recovery, but need to do more on disaster preparedness.
|
|
| Most important outcomes from the session: |
|
|
Indirect impacts of natural disasters (which had normally been ignored) were much higher than the direct impacts (20 to 100 per cent) and that total estimated economic impacts are mostly doubled. |
|
|
|
Assessment of socio-economic impacts reveal that standardized templates could greatly facilitate rapid assessment of impacts. |
|
|
|
We focus on disaster response and recovery, but need to do more on disaster preparedness. |
|
|
|
Politicians really do not give money until disaster happens. |
|
|
|
Decision making needs to be at the national level in regard to disaster preparedness |
|
|
|
Knowing a country's literacy rate is important in how disaster preparedness messages are disseminated. Broadcasting disaster reduction education was shared as one possibility to bridge the literacy gap in countries. |
|
|
|
Increase public preparedness to deal with natural disasters with education aimed at all, and build a community dedicated to preventing risk and disasters. |
|
|
IDNDR 2007 also included an exhibition widely participated by many countries and international organizations from 8 to 10 October 2007. With the close of IDNDR 2007 at lunchtime, participants stayed on to attend the afternoon discussions on different thematic aspects addressed by the Asia Pacific Workshop on School Education and Disaster Risk Reduction which included “Children’s Voices”.
|
