2005 World Disaster Reduction awareness campaign focuses
on reducing risk using micro-finance tools and safety nets
In 2005 ISDR network will contribute to the International
Year of Microcredit by collaborating with partners involved
in micro-finance and safety nets for disaster reduction.
This will also be the theme of the International Day for
Disaster Reduction on Wednesday 12 October. Micro finance
is a tool that has successfully been utilized to improve
livelihoods options and reduce poverty. It has been very
little used yet in the context of disaster risk reduction.
Leading up to the International Day, we will stimulate dialogues
with the micro-finance community on the possibilities of
using these tools to reduce disaster risk and increase community
resilience to disasters. In addition we aim at raising awareness
among disaster risk managers on how micro-finance and safety
nets are potential options to reduce vulnerability and help
recover from disasters. The ISDR secretariat, in collaboration
with other UN agencies and NGOs working on micro-finance,
is currently seeking good practices and lessons learned in
this area to share with others around the world. If you are
aware of good practices and experiences, please send your
contributions to us, and we will adapt them for out information
products or discussion forums. Please send to leonib@un.org
Further information on the International Year of Microcredit
is available at http://www.yearofmicrocredit.org
2005 nomination process of the UN Sasakawa Award for Disaster
Reduction
Nomination booklets are now available for the annual nomination
process of the UN Sasakawa for Disaster Reduction. Join us
in rewarding individuals and institutions from around the
world that contributed, through innovative practices and
outstanding initiatives, to reducing the risk and vulnerabilities
of communities to natural hazards. Candidates with expertise
related to micro finance and disaster reduction are also
welcome. Nomination forms are available in English, French
and Spanish at http://www.unisdr.org and must be submitted
by 29 July 2005.
For further information on the UN Sasakawa Award for Disaster
Reduction, please refer to http://www.unisdr.org/eng/sasakawa/sk-about-eng.htm or contact rosec@un.org
Indian Ocean interim early warning system demonstrates results
following Indonesia quake
Numerous tsunami alerts were issued throughout the Indian
Ocean following the earthquake of 28 March that struck Indonesia,
prompting immediate reaction and evacuation to safer areas.
Warnings were issued to six Indian Ocean countries by the
Japan Meteorology Agency only 40 minutes after the quake,
including India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.
The interim tsunami early warning system was set in place
after a meeting held in Paris 3-8 March, organized by the
Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO in conjunction
with the ISDR Platform for the Promotion of Early Warning
(PPEW). The next meeting on the subject will be held in Mauritius
on 14-16 April to further elaborate the plan of action as
well as to clarify responsibilities of national, sub-regional
and regional stakeholders, followed by another in Bangkok
planned for June.
Further information on early warning is available at http://www.unisdr.org/ppew/
Clinton commences work as UN Special Envoy for Tsunami Recovery
and risk reduction
Upon the request of UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, former
US President Bill Clinton has agreed to serve as the UN’s
Special Envoy for Tsunami Recovery, with the support of Erskine
Bowles as Deputy Special Envoy. Both will play an active
role in communicating, coordinating and informing donors,
governments and general public on post-tsunami activities
following the tragedy of December last year. President Clinton
is also expected to work with the ISDR secretariat, UNDP,
UNESCO, WMO and others on raising awareness and generating
support for disaster risk reduction.
Platform for the Promotion of Early Warning Website - New
Section on Tsunami
The 26 December 2004 tsunami in the Indian Ocean caught most
people by surprise; if tsunami early warning systems had
been in place in the region, many thousands of lives could
have been saved. The international community is acting to
ensure the implementation of effective early warning systems
as soon as possible. Special conferences are underway to
plan and determine how the tsunami early warning system for
the Indian Ocean should be most effectively organized, supported
by a multi dollar project coordinated by ISDR/PPEW.
This new section provides information on these developments.
It also contains a concise summary of information on tsunamis
and links to other tsunami expert websites. At the moment,
the main focus of tsunami early warning activities is on
the Indian Ocean region but the site will also highlight
endeavours in other tsunami-prone regions of the world.
For further information please visit the tsunami section
at PPEW’s homepage at: http://www.unisdr.org/ppew/tsunami/ppew-tsunami.htm
Seoul: an opportunity to recall the priorities of the Hyogo
Framework of Action
Ministers of Environment from Asia and the Pacific met
on 24-29 March 2005 in Seoul, Republic of Korea, at the
Fifth
Ministerial Conference on Environment and Development in
Asia and the Pacific convened by the UN Economic and Social
Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN/ESCAP). Among the
major events in the margins of the Ministerial Conference,
an Eminent Scientists Symposium was held discussing issues
relating to "Global Change, Environment and Development" on
24-25 March 2005. UN/ISDR Director Salvano Briceno took this
opportunity to recall participants of those priorities identified
in the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015 at the World
Conference on Disaster Reduction Kobe in Japan in January
this year. A high level panel with heads of ESCAP, UNEP,ADRC,and
ISDR informed of tsunami follow up action.
Further information on the meeting is available at http://www.mced2005seoul.org
Sustainable human settlements for disaster-resilient cities
On 4-8 April the UN Human Settlements Programmer’s
(UN-HABITAT) Governing Council met for its twentieth session
in Nairobi, Kenya. Disaster risk reduction was singled out
as one of two special themes that were included within the
agenda under item 5(b): Post conflict, natural and human-made
disasters assessment and reconstruction. A dialogue session
on the theme was held on 5 April, which generated lively
discussion among panelists and participants. UN/ISDR’s
intervention is available at http://www.unisdr.org
Further information on UN-HABITAT’s Governing Council
is available at
http://www.un-habitat.org/gc/gc20/default.asp
African National Platforms for disaster risk reduction to
meet in Nairobi
UN/ISDR Africa in cooperation with UNDP/BCPR is organising
a “First Consultative Meeting on National Platforms
for Disaster Risk Reduction in Africa” in Nairobi,
Kenya, on 21-23 April 2005. This forum for focal points of
national platforms in Africa will provide an opportunity
to share successes, difficulties and lessons learned in coordinating
national platforms for disaster risk reduction. National
coordinators will also review the purpose and guiding principles
of national platforms and the implementation of the Hyogo
Framework for Action and the Africa’s Plan of Action.
Further information on UN/ISDR Africa is available at http://www.unisdrafrica.org
Information on ISDR National Platforms is available at
http://www.unisdr.org/eng/country-inform/introduction.htm
Forum on drought risk management in Africa to launch regional
network
The Forum on Drought Risk and Development Policy was held
in Kenya following a recommendation from the ISDR Ad Hoc
Discussion Group on Drought in coordination with UNDP/DDC/BCPR.
The main recommendation of the forum was to launch an African
Drought Risk and Development Network, which will advocate
for action on drought risk management in Africa at sub-regional,
regional and international level.
For more information on the debate write to abchir@un.org or eric.patrick@undp.org.
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