Natural Disaster Reduction - News & Events

Two publications focused on Disaster Risk Management in the Andean Region were launched at the last World Conference in Disaster Reduction held in Kobe, Japan, from the 18th to the 22nd January 2005. They were elaborated under the framework of the Preparatory Assistance "Elaboration of the Andean Strategy for Disaster Prevention and Relief" and the Regional Project "Systematization and Dissemination of Best Practices in Disaster Relief and Local Risk Management in the Andean Region". The General Secretariat of the Andean Community of Nations (SG-CAN), with technical and financial support from the Bureau of Crisis Prevention and Recovery (BCPR), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the UNDP Representations in the Sub-region’s countries, takes de responsibility of promoting this regional initiative, with the objective of making it available for different regional, national and local actors linked with this issue.
Andean Strategy for Disaster Prevention and Relief - PDF - 2.4MB
Local Risk Management and Disaster Preparedness in the Andean Region - PDF - 2.8MB

More information: Other Latin America and Caribbean Publications on Disaster Reduction // UNDP/BCPR Disaster Reduction Online Publications

UNDP is providing US$100,000 in response to a government appeal for humanitarian assistance such as food, boats, power generators and water pumps. Heavy rains in the last four weeks have flooded two-thirds of Georgetown, the capital, affecting 120,000 people. A joint UN team, including UNDP, will assess relief needs. The Office of the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Guyana informed that according to the national authorities, two-thirds of Georgetown had been flooded, affecting some 120,000 people. According to the World Health Organization/Pan American Health Organization (WHO/PAHO), as of 21 January, a significant amount of water was drained from the higher ground in Central Georgetown; however, some areas in Central Georgetown still remained seriously affected. On the East Coast, the water level stayed high and continued to rise as water drained from higher ground and more people had been forced to evacuate their homes and take shelter. (...)
Full OCHA Situation Report No4 (01.02.2005) // Sit rep No 3 // SitRep No 2 // Sit Rep No 1 // Situation Map
More information: UNDP Guyana Country Office // DRU & Guyana

The UN World Conference on Disaster Reduction (WCDR) was held from 18-22 January 2005, at the Portopia Hotel, in Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. Approximately 4,000 participants attended the WCDR, including representatives from 168 governments including more than 40 ministers, 78 UN specialized agencies and observer organizations, 161 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and 562 journalists from 154 media outlets. The WCDR aimed to increase the international profile of disaster risk reduction, promote its integration into development planning and practice, and strengthen local and national capacities to address the causes of disasters that hamper development in many countries. Discussions at the WCDR resulted in two negotiated documents: a programme outcome document entitled “Building the resilience of nations and communities to disasters: Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015,” and the Hyogo Declaration. Delegates also took note of the “Review of the 1994 Yokohama Strategy for a Safer World and its Plan of Action” and adopted a “Common statement on the Special Session on the Indian Ocean Disaster: Risk Reduction for a Safer Future.”
Full Summary
More information: UNDP/BCPR DRU websection on Kobe // WCDR website // ENB Coverage

Today and tomorrow, the World Health Organization/ Pan American Health Organization (WHO/PAHO), UNDP and UNICEF are undertaking field visits to Talamanca, Costa Rica, to assess damages and needs after recent flooding.
Heavy rains that started on 7 January affecting the entire Caribbean coast and the northern area of Costa Rica have caused flooding in 11 cantons. By 11 January more than 6,000 people had been evacuated. According to the report issued by the National Emergency Commission (CNE) on 18 January, 2,143 persons are still in temporary shelters and four people lost their lives. Damage to infrastructure is significant, with houses, sewage systems, aqueducts, health clinics, schools, roads, bridges and dikes affected. Talamanca, with a population of 29,300, is the most affected area with 1,907 persons in 19 temporary shelters. According to the national authorities, the health sector requires assistance for damaged hospitals and clinics in addition to rehabilitating aqueducts and sewage systems and cleaning contaminated wells. The Ministry of Health has requested various relief items for Talamanca. The Government of Costa Rica declared a national emergency on 11 January. The United Nations Disaster Management Team (UNDMT) met on 19 January to exchange information on the effects of the disaster and available relief supplies and contributions, and to coordinate current response activities. The UNDMT is in constant communication with national authorities. WHO/PAHO brought in an international expert to assess damages to clinics and hospitals in Daytona and Home Creek in Talamanca. WHO/PAHO is assisting the national authorities and the Costa Rican Red Cross to delivery of humanitarian assistance through SUMA. FAO is preparing a mission to the affected areas in the second week of February to assess the damages to agriculture.
Floods Info Bulletin No 2 // OCHA SitRep No1
More information: UNDP Costa Rica Country Office // UNDP DRU & Costa Rica

The World Conference on Disaster Reduction concluded here today with countries pledging to reduce the risks facing millions of people who are exposed to natural disasters. Taking place less than one month after the Indian Ocean tsunami disaster that claimed up to 230,000 lives, the conference heard numerous voices from around the globe pledging to create a safer world. At the closing session today of the world conference 168 delegations adopted a framework for action calling on states to put disaster risk at the center of political agendas and national policies. The “Hyogo Framework for Action: 2005 – 2015” will strengthen the capacity of disaster-prone countries to address risk and invest heavily in disaster preparedness.(...)
Full ISDR Press Release
More information: UNDP/BCPR DRU websection on Kobe // WCDR website // ENB Coverage

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) would like to begin our statement by thanking the Government of Japan, Prefecture of Hyogo, City of Kobe, the Bureau of Member States and the ISDR Secretariat for the hard-work and dedication that has gone into organizing this important and timely Conference. With the attention of the world focused on helping the victims of the recent tsunami, all of us gathered here have an obligation to analyse our development choices, drawing upon our collective experience and knowledge to reduce disaster risk and its associated human and economic costs. (...)
Full statement
More information: UNDP/BCPR DRU websection on Kobe // WCDR website // ENB Coverage

At the World Conference on Disaster Reduction, a number of thematic panel discussions were held on governance, co-organized by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). In these sessions, participants took up the issue of how good governance relates to disaster risk reduction. Convincing policy makers and governments to invest in risk reduction and ensuring proper participation for good governance was identified as challenges. The need for enabling environment was underscored to ensure the involvement of local actors.
Full story
More information: Session on National Systems for Disaster Risk Management in the Context of Governance // WCDR website // ENB Coverage

Natural disasters exert an enormous toll on socio-economic growth and development in the developing world. They pose a significant threat to prospects for achieving the Millennium Development Goals, warned Zéphirin Diabré, UN Under-Secretary-General and Associate Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), speaking at the World Conference on Disaster Reduction (WCDR) in Kobe. “It may seem counter-intuitive to some-but certain development policies and programs actually generate new disaster risks,” said Mr. Diabré.
Full story
More information: Online publication "Visions of Risk" // High Level Round Table - Disaster Risk: The Next Development Challenge // WCDR website // ENB Coverage

Managing disaster risks presents different challenges than managing disasters. In disaster situations, the damages are all too evident and the needs all too clear. The risk factors that led to the disaster, on the other hand, are very often hidden – largely invisible to policy-makers and the general public, and even to disaster and development professionals. It is only after these risk factors and the latent risks have become manifest that the call to action is made. By then it is too late, however. The damage has been done. Managing disaster risks presents different challenges than managing disasters. In disaster situations, the damages are all too evident and the needs all too clear. The risk factors that led to the disaster, on the other hand, are very often hidden – largely invisible to policy-makers and the general public, and even to disaster and development professionals. It is only after these risk factors and the latent risks have become manifest that the call to action is made. By then it is too late, however. The damage has been done.
Full story
More information: Online publication "Visions of Risk" // Visions of Risk and Vulnerability session at the WCDR // WCDR website // ENB Coverage

At the World Conference on Disaster Reduction being held 18-22 January, representatives from states around the world are meeting to review the implementation of the Yokohama Strategy and Plan of Action, which was adopted at the World Conference on Natural Disaster Reduction in 1994. The conference is expected to motivate and guide governments and their policy makers to pay more attention to identifying practical and concrete ways to incorporate disaster risk reduction into poverty alleviation and development strategies. This will be crucial for achieving the MDGs and sustainable human development. The conference will also raise awareness of the urgency to focus on the vulnerable, taking into account community needs to address disaster risk, as well as emphasize action at global, regional, national and local levels for the development of a culture of prevention. The meeting comes at a crucial time: as the international community is making decisions about how to respond to the tsunami disaster in Asia and South Asia.
Full Press Release
More information: High Level Round Table 1: Disaster Risk: The Next Development Challenge // WCDR website // ENB Coverage

AThree weeks after the devastating tsunami in the Indian Ocean, the World Conference on Disaster Reduction opened this morning here to address the critical need of better preparing communities when faced by natural hazards. In an opening address to the world gathering, Jan Egeland, United Nations Under-Secretary
General for Humanitarian Affairs and Humanitarian Relief Coordinator, urged conference participants to turn commitments into action in order to make societies more resilient when confronted by natural hazards. “All disaster prone countries should adopt clear, goal-oriented disaster reduction policies and actions plans underpinned by dedicated structures and resources”, he said.
Full ISDR Press Release
More information: WCDR website // ENB Coverage

“Each year, half a million women die giving birth – that is the death toll from one Asian tsunami every four months. Every year, three million people die of AIDS. That is one tsunami every three weeks. Every year, 11 million children die of hunger and poverty-related and preventable disease. That is one tsunami every 5 days,” said Joana Merlin-Scholtes, the Resident Representative for United Nations Development Programme in Thailand, today at the Asia launch of The UN Millennium Project report, Investing in Development: A Practical Plan to Achieve the Millennium Development Goals. This ground-breaking action plan was released as the Asian tsunami disaster focuses global attention on the need, scale and effectiveness of aid to the world’s poor. The enormously generous response to the tragedy sent a powerful message that ordinary citizens in wealthier nations do in fact support such aid - if they clearly see the need and if they believe the funds they provide will reach and help the people in need. The Project’s plan addresses these legitimate concerns - and shows that targeted investments in essential public services such as health, education and infrastructure make poor communities less vulnerable to such disasters and to the hardships of disease, hunger and environmental degradation.
Full Press Release
More information: The Millennium Project website

For several days, heavy rains have been falling over the Atlantic region of Costa Rica, causing several of the main rivers in the province of Limon to overflow. Flooding has caused damage to housing, agriculture and communication systems. To date, a total of 1,550 people have been evacuated and at least 50 shelters have been set up in Sarapiquí, Guápiles, Bribrí, Cahuita, Puerto Viejo and Valle de la Estrella, which are housing some 1,100 families. Several national highways have been closed because of the flooding and landslides, making access to the region more difficult and cutting off several communities. There is currently only one route open to the affected area. Many residents in these areas have taken refuge on rooftops while they await assistance. The National Meteorological Institute is predicting that the heavy rains will last for at least two more days. The rains are also affecting the Atlantic province of Bocas del Toro in Panama, which borders Costa Rica.
Full story (Source ReliefWeb) // Floods Info Bulletin No 2 // OCHA SitRep No1
More information: UNDP Costa Rica Country Office // UNDP DRU & Costa Rica

Secretary-General Kofi Annan today announced the appointment of Mark Malloch Brown, the Administrator of UNDP, as his Chef de Cabinet. Mr. Annan said that Mr. Malloch Brown, who will continue to serve as head of the UNDP, would assist him and Deputy Secretary-General Louise Fréchette in leading major initiatives to improve the performance and overhaul the management of the United Nations, leading up to a planned global summit to be held in New York in September.
Full story
More information: Mark Malloch Brown Biography

It’s a question that will haunt Cuddalore for a long time. Had the tsunami struck next year, could they have lost fewer lives? The answer to that lies in the district’s Samiyarpettai village, among its most hazard-prone and vulnerable, that lost 22 lives against 102 in Pudukuppam, thanks to the training they received under the UNDP-funded District Disaster Management and Mitigation Project a few months ago. Almost all other worst-affected Cuddalore villagers were to be covered under the programme next year. Cuddalore is one of the seven districts in Tamil Nadu selected for the exercise. District Collector Gagandeep Singh Bedi had identified Samiyarpettai as a model village for the project as it was multi-hazard prone, vulnerable to floods, droughts and earthquakes.
Full story
More information: DRU & India // Earthquakes & Tsunamis in India websection