Thursday, October 11, 2012

2013 Global Platform for DRR



We have to disccuss how we can present our activities at 3 regions (Asia, MENA, LATAM) in the 4th Session of GPDRR (http://www.preventionweb.net/english/hyogo/GP/) in Geneva, in May 2013.

http://www.preventionweb.net/globalplatform/2013/?pid:47&pih:2

9 TH INTERNATIONAL ANNUAL WORKSHOP AND EXPO ON SUMATRA TSUNAMI DISASTER AND RECOVERY, AIWEST-DR 2014 PARTICIPATION

9 th International Annual Workshop and Expo on Sumatra Tsunami Disaster and Recovery, AIWEST-DR 2014 (2014/10/22-24) Subject: 10th Year Anniversary of the 2004 Indonian Ocean Tsunami. Location: Banda Aceh City, Aceh Province, Indonesia (2014/10/22-24). On 22 – 24 October, four members of IRIDeS – Prof. Osamu Murao (Regional and Urban Reconstruction Research Division), Assoc. Prof. Aiko Sakurai, Assist. Prof. Sébastien Boret (Disaster Information, Management and Public Collaboration Division) and Assist. Prof. Elizabeth Maly (Human and social Response Research Division) – took part in the Annual International Workshop and Expo on Sumatra Tsunami Disaster and Recovery (AIWEST) held by the Tsunami and Disaster Mitigation Research Center (TDMRC) of Syiah Kuala University in Aceh, Indonesia. This event commemorated the 10th anniversary of the tsunami, which saw the loss of hundreds of thousands of lives on December 26, 2004. Among the special guests, Prof. Yasuo Tanaka from Kobe University gave a convincing lecture on the role and the responsibility of universities towards disaster risk reduction. http://irides.tohoku.ac.jp/media/files/_u/topic/file1/20141022_report.pdf

Monday, October 8, 2012

WORK PLAN OF ASSOCIATION EX JICA FELLOWS OF MITIGATION STRATEGY FOR MEGA-URBAN EARTHQUAKE DISASTER



            INDEX

 I.         PRESENTATION
II.         PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION
III.        PURPOSE
IV.       POLICY
V.        OBJECTIVES
VII.       EXAMPLE OF ACTIVITY FOR LATAM

I.           PRESENTATION

The disaster risk reduction in an urban environment is essential to ensure the sustainable development of cities in developing countries. Specialists in reducing urban disaster risk (UDRR) are not readily available, because the formation of them requires a broad knowledge of science and understanding of socio-economic conditions that lead to risks urban. It also requires a heart full of devotion and commitment to save people.

Based on the experience of the Kobe earthquake in 1995, which was a clear pattern of urban disaster and recovery, a group of specialists UDRR, Asia, Middle East and North Africa (MENA), and Latin America, have been trained through a joint effort between JICA Hyogo Research Center for Urban Safety - RCUSS Kobe University. For a period of eight years (2004-2011), more than 100 participants have completed two months of training in Japan. The group of participants has promoted regional workshops to promote mutual understanding of the issues in each region UDRR and thus further strengthen the international network among these specialists UDRR and organizations.

This document contains the policies, objectives and activities to be developed by the Association of Ex - JICA Alumni of the "Strategy for Earthquake Disaster Mitigation Mega-Urban", with support from RCUSS Kobe University, in order to give effect to the priorities set out in the Hyogo Framework for Action (Ensure that disaster risk reduction (DRR) is a national and local priority with a strong institutional basis for implementation.) as well as the seventh Millennium Development Goal (Ensuring environmental sustainability.) in accordance with the Disaster Risk Management – GRD (Disasters can wipe out any hope of developing sustainable urban and rural environments. If no policies are defined and implemented, it will be impossible to achieve the goal of improving the lives of at least 100 million slum dwellers by 2020.).

II.        IDENTIFICATION OF PROBLEMS


a. Lack of critical mass of specialists trained in disaster risk reduction in the level technicians, professionals and executives in different countries and regions. The culture of disaster prevention is not developed in the general population.
b. The disaster management models are based on the management of the emergency and the help of the authorities, it is rare that there local groups trained and prepared to deal with disaster risks.
c.The disaster risk management does not incorporate scientific advances in technology.       
d. There is no universal access to a Web portal for Training and Education Disaster Risk Management, and most are available in English.

III.      PURPOSE


1. Create an NGO for undertaking the proposed objectives of the meetings of Pakistan 2011, Turkey 2011 and Colombia 2012.
2. Obtaining financial and human resources to sustain the organization.
3. Optimize achieving development goals and activities through proper utilization of available resources.

The proposal made at the meeting of Pakistan, it seems appropriate for the development of the organization that arises (Fig)



The NGO (name to be assigned) will be the framework responsible for planning, organizing, coordinating, directing and supervising the policy to propose international forums related to scientific and technical activities-operative established under the Risk Management Disaster. Monitors and evaluates the implementation of this policy and, if applicable international standardization proposed

IV.      POLICY


Being an organization that encourages, develops, promotes the process of disaster risk management through hazard identification, establishment of vulnerability and risk assessment. This process should be encouraged to society as a whole and particularly to the poor population and authorities of local governments in the areas most likely to suffer the ravages of nature.

V.   OBJECTIVES


1. Creating an organization international, regional (Asia, MENA and LATAM) and national in at least two countries in each region during 2012-2013.
2. Develop projects to obtain financing at the level of international cooperation and local   goverments.           
3. Develop a training program for 2012.
4. Develop regional workshops to strengthen alumni. (1 in 2012).
5. Create or link to a platform to centralize and share information

VI.    SAMPLE ACTIVITY LATAM


1. - Name of the program: Training course for Latin America in Reducing Urban Disaster Risk.
2. - Timeframe: 2012 to 2015 (four years).
3. - General Purpose: To train local and national institutions of Latin America in Reducing Urban Disaster Risk.
4. - Specific Objectives (according to the minutes of the meeting Bogotá 2012):
4.1. Develop training program
4.2. Conduct training at local and national Latin America
4.3 Creating a platform for sharing information.

VII.    Activities - Methodology:


5.1. Develop a database of ex JICA fellow interested in participating in the project, with each profile, experience, and possible subject of the course.
5.2. Develop detailed project program and courses, subjects, duration, speakers, costs, etc.
5.3. Building two workshops for former fellows would conferencing training program and setting the contents.
5.4. Eight training courses for 15 to 20 days, two each year, one in April and one in October, where the course is in every country in Latin America (the management of the country would also through the ex-trainees), the Alumni speakers would be and some of the teachers we've had (the course will be in Spanish, translation required)
5.5 Generate relevant course documents, guides, reports, etc..

VIII.  Resources.

Resources need to be managed with international cooperation and local government offices of the course for the following expenses:
·         President Organization (salary)
·         Regional Director (salary against achievement of objectives)
·         Course coordinators in each country (fee against achievement of objectives)
·         Speakers (former fellows and professors) (airfare, lodging, per diem, etc..)
·         Headquartes of  the course (with local management)
·         Course material and reports.





2011 Global Platform for DRR


JICA RCUSS team joined to Global Disaster Forum for Diaster Risk Reduction (3th Session Geneva Switzerland- 8- 13 May 2011)
http://www.preventionweb.net/globalplatform/2011/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_Cp26GNtrU&list=PLAE5AFE38816E8FFF&index=2&feature=plpp_video

“International Workshop on UDRR in Latin America & Information Sharing” March 5-7, 2012, Bogota COLOMBIA



Disaster risk reduction of urban and built environment is essential to guarantee the healthy and industrious developments of core cities in developing countries.
Specialists in Urban Disaster Risk Reduction (UDRR) are, however, not readily available because developing such specialists requires acquiring a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of both the scientific and the socio-economic conditions driving urban risks. Further, it requires a full heart of devotion and a commitment to bridging the people together.
Based on the experiences of the 1995 Kobe Earthquake, that were typical of urban disaster & recovery, a group of UDRR specialists, from Asia, Middle East & North Africa (MENA), and Latin America regions, have been trained through a concerted effort between JICA Hyogo and RCUSS of Kobe University. For a period of 8 years (2004-2011), more than 100 participants have completed two months training in Japan. Initiatives have started from the group of those training participants to hold regional workshops to promote mutual understandings of UDRR issues in each region and to further strengthen the international human network among these UDRR specialists and concerned organizations. As those three regions have their
own unique cultural and historical commonalities, the regional solidarity plays a central role in building DRR strategy. So far, two workshops have been completed in Asia and MENA as indicated below. The Latin America workshop organized on March 5-7 2012 at Bogota, Colombia to complete the linkage among these regional UDRR efforts.
1. Asia regional workshop at Islamabad, Pakistan, May 2-5, 2011
Theme: Capacity Building in Vulnerable Community, learning through 2005
Pakistan Kashmir EQ & 2010 Pakistan Flood Disasters and Recoveries
2. MENA regional workshop at Ankara/Istanbul, Turkey, December 1-3, 2011
Theme: Urban Development and Renovation based on Seismic Risk in MENA
region, learning through 1999 Turkey Earthquake and Recoveries
Objectives:
The objectives of the Latin America workshop are as follows;
1) Discuss the UDRR strategy & topics needed for Latin America region; topics
such as assessment of urban risk & vulnerability, seismic design of housing,
and safety of schools and hospitals.
2) Discuss the support & collaboration on the recovery from recent disasters such
as the 2010 Haiti Earthquake, the 2010 Chile Earthquake, and the 2011 the Great
East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami
3) Discuss the future strategy of UDRR network & activity among the Asia,
MENA, and Latin America groups and the international organizations.

Program:
Dates & Place: March 5-7, 2012. Hotel near FOPAE office, Bogota, Colombia
Day 1 (March 4): Arrivals of participants to Bogota
Day 2 (March 5): Opening remarks (UNDP, UNISDR, FOPAE, JICA, RCUSS),
Presentations on Haiti, Chile and Japan EQs disasters and recoveries. Reports
from Colombia, and other countries.
Day 3 (March 6): Site visits to informal housing around Bogota, Urban situation of
Bogota, and visit to FOPAE office
Day 4 (March 7): Workshop (Presentations and discussions on the UDRR strategy
& topics needed for Latin America region, and Bogota visits. Future
collaboration among the Asia, MENA, and Latin America groups and the
support of international organizations.)
Day 5 (March 8): Departure from Bogota

Participants:
• Ex-JICA participants from Latin America countries (Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Venezuela)
• The leader or coordinator from the Asia and the MENA regions
• Representatives from FOPAE, Bogota, Colombia
• Representatives from UNDP, UNISDR, World Bank and other international organizations
• International UDRR experts (Prof. Louise Comfort of Pittsburgh Univ. and Dr.
Fouad Bendimerad of EMI, Prof. Toshihisa Toyoda of Shudo Univ. etc.)
• Representatives from JICA Colombia, and JICA Japan
• Yasuo Tanaka, RCUSS, Kobe Univ.

Abreviations:
EMI: Earthquake Megacities Initiatives
FOPAE: Fondo de Prevención y Atención de Emergencias (Fund for Emergency
Prevention & Response)
JICA: Japan International Cooperation Agency
RCUSS: Research Center for Urban Safety and Security
UNDP: United Nations Development Programme
UNISDR: United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction





Practical Guidelines for Urban Areas Development in Seismic Prone Countries


Natural hazards especially earthquakes always make great damage and loss in urban and rural areas. During the past two decades, the impacts of such hazards in urban places have been continuously increased. This is mainly because of inappropriate growth and development of cities, uncontrollable increase of population density in vulnerable urban areas due to immigration of people from villages to the cities for finding better living opportunities, unsustainable development of urban forms and patterns as well as urban infrastructures,
inappropriate population distribution along high risk areas, and many other issues.
Considering the vulnerability of urban areas to earthquake and other natural hazards, the United Nations organized World Disaster Reduction Campaign in 2010 and 2011 entitled as "Making Cities Resilient". In this regard, several activities were carried out in different countries. RCUSS, Kobe University is also organized a workshop in November 2010 about earthquake risk in mega urban areas and as one of the results of that workshop, it was decided to prepare a guideline for earthquake risk mitigation in urban places. For this purpose, a group of researchers from Middle East and North African Countries were assigned to prepare different parts of the manual. These activities were formulated into three main sections considering geological and geotechnical issues, building and urban infra-structures subjects, and disaster management elements. In each part, after introducing the subjects and the relevant challenges, the global experiences about each topic were reviewed, and some guidelines were presented to be considered for safe development of urban areas in seismic prone zones. This manual can be used by urban planners, as well as disaster management authorities as a guideline for organizing the relevant activities and implementing risk reduction measures.
Authors:

ProjectManager: Kambod Amini Hosseini (Iran, IIEES)
Project Coordinator: Burcak Busbug Erkan (Turkey, METU)
Project Supervisor: Yasuo Tanaka (Japan, RCUSS)
Main Study Team: Yousef Mehani (Algeria), Emin Yahya Mentese (Turkey), Alpaslan Hamdi
Kuzucuoglu (Turkey), Lamia Ali (Syria).


1.3. Development of urban areas in Fault Zones
1.3.1. Introduction
1.3.2. Development in fault zones
1.3.3. The global activities for surface faulting risk assessment and risk reduction
1.3.4. Main guidelines and criteria for reducing the impacts of fault rupture
1.4. Development of urban areas in liquefiable areas
1.4.1. Introduction
1.4.2. Development in liquefaction hazard zones
1.4.3. The global activities for evaluation of liquefaction potential and risk reduction
1.4.4. Main guidelines and criteria for reducing the impacts of liquefaction
1.5. Development of urban fabrics in areas prone to land subsidence
1.5.1. Introduction
1.5.2. Development in land subsidence prone areas
1.5.3. The global activities for evaluation of land subsidence
1.5.4. Main guidelines and criteria for reducing the impacts of land subsidence
Chapter 2 Structural and urban planning considerations
2.1. Evaluating the vulnerability of existing buildings in urban fabrics
2.1.1. Introduction
2.1.2. Development of seismic codes for existing buildings
2.1.3. A review of the global experiences
2.1.4. Main guidelines for assessment the vulnerability of existing R/C buildings
2.2. The impacts of urban forms and patterns
2.2.1. Introduction
2.2.2. Forms and patterns in seismic regions
2.2.3. The global activities for assessing the impacts of form and patterns in vulnerability
2.2.4. Main guidelines for considering form and pattern in seismic zones
2.3. Improving old and vulnerable urban fabrics
2.3.1. Introduction
2.3.2. Identification of vulnerable urban fabrics to earthquakes
2.3.3. The global activities for assessing and improving vulnerable urban fabrics
2.3.4. Main guidelines for improving vulnerable urban fabrics in seismic zones
2.4. Road networks in earthquake prone zones
2.4.1. Introduction
2.4.2. General guidelines for safe planning of road networks
2.4.3. Physical criteria for developing road network
2.5. Improving of urban infrastructures in seismic prone areas
2.5.1. Introduction
2.5.2. Characteristics of resilient networks
2.5.3. A review of global experiences
2.5.4. Main guidelines for improving lifelines and infrastructure in urban fabrics
Chapter 3 Emergency management and urban developments
3.1. Developing disaster risk management master plans for urban areas
3.1.1. Introduction
3.1.2. Components of earthquake risk mitigation and management master plans
3.1.3. Main guidelines for preparing risk management master plans
3.2. Vulnerability and loss estimation in seismic prone urban areas
3.2.1. Introduction
3.2.2. Code and software of impact assessment
3.2.3. Main guidelines for assessment impacts of earthquakes
3.3. Developing Emergency response command centers (ERCC)
3.3.1. Introduction
3.3.2. Main infrastructures necessary for developing ERCC
3.3.3. A review of the global activities for making ERCC
3.3.4. Main guidelines and criteria for developing ERCC
3.4. Developing rescue and relief bases in urban areas in earthquake prone zones
3.4.1. Introduction
3.4.2. Improving rescue and relief activities
3.4.3. A review of the global activities
3.4.4. Main guidelines and criteria for developing rescue and relief bases
3.5. Developing emergency medical centers in urban areas in earthquake prone zones
3.5.1. Introduction
3.5.2. Improving medical care service in mass emergency conditions
3.5.3. A review of the global experiences
3.5.4. Mass casualty’s management guidelines
3.6. Evacuation places in urban areas in earthquake prone zones
3.6.1. Introduction
3.6.2. Planning for emergency evacuation
3.6.3. A review of the global experiences
3.6.4. General guidelines for developing evacuation plans


Saturday, October 6, 2012

2011 International Workshop for Urban Development and Renovation Based on Seismic Risk Ankara İstanbul TURKEY

-


International workshop for urban development and renovation based on seismic risk in Middle East North Africa (MENA) region: (30 November-4 December, 2011 - Turkey)
First day of the workshop, presentations made by selected participants during morning session at  METU  Cultural and Conventional Center.
Welcoming Addresses:
Burcak Basbug Erkan, Director METU Disaster Management Centre
Yasuo Tanaka, Director Kobe University RCUSS
Polat Gulkan, Head of Civil Engineering Dept. Cankaya University
Akio Saito, JICA Chief Representative
Participants:
Kambod Amini Hosseini, Zafar Shah, Sebnem Duzgun, Lamia Ali
http://www.jica.go.jp/turkey/english/office/topics/news111201.html



In the afternoon, the group visited the Earthquake Directorate of Turkish Disaster and Emergency Preparedness Authority and the Turkish Red Crescent. JICA Alumni kindly hosted a dinner in the evening.

On the second day, a field trip to Kaynaşlı-Düzce is organised to observe the recovery process after the 1999 EQ. Ms. Tezgider presented this process, mentioning the difficulties the people had gone through and touching on how they were affected psychologically. She talked about what to do or not, to help people handle starting a new life. She also underlined the methods which must be followed by the government for this purpose. After highlighting that education is vitally important in disaster situations, she informed us about their projects as NGO to overcome the educational problems in the town. Having discussed the subject and exchanged ideas, the group left Kaynaşlı and headed to İstanbul.


On the third day, Istanbul Seismic Mitigation and Emergency Preparedness Project (İSMEP) office is visited. After the introduction of the project, a study tour is organised to Vatan Lisesi, a highschool that is being strengthened at that moment.

In the afternoon of the same day, the MENA participants had a closed group meeting. The conclusion of the workshop is to continue the network, which has been established among the JICA ex-participants on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) courses. We already have a mini-platform on DRR activities. This platform will continue collaboration. The guideline for urban seismic risk reduction in MENA region that has been prepared with the work of Dr. Kambod Amini of Iran,  will be improved by the revisions/additions of MENA group members.

2011 International Workshop on Disaster Risk Reduction Islamabad PAKISTAN


International workshop on 2005 Pakistan Earthquake and Flood Disaster in 2010 was held in Islamabad in collaboration with Rescue 1122, CHEF International and RCUSS, Kobe University, Japan from 1-6 May 2011. Delegates from USA, Japan, China, Philippines, Bangladesh, & Turkey joined the international workshop. After two days’ discussions and two days’ field visits to disaster stricken areas like Muzaffarabad and Charsaddah, outcomes in 5 areas including Accessibility for Disaster recovery & reconstruction sites, Mainstreaming DRR in Development Planning, School / Community Safety Program, Educational Material/ Curriculum, Advocacy & Capacity Building were agreed upon. Resultantly, a declaration was signed to carry out DRR activities. This helped out the kind of Preparedness that can be implemented for the future Disasters in Pakistan, whole of Asia and also in various Courtiers in MENA.

1. Background
Natural hazards, such as floods, droughts, earthquakes and tsunamis, are becoming more regular and intense, and are having an increasing impact on people and communities. Poor planning, poverty and a range of other underlying factors create conditions of vulnerability, hazards and risks that result in insufficient capacity or measures to reduce the potentially negative consequences of natural hazards and disasters. Thus, vulnerability contributes as much to the magnitude of the disaster impacts as do the natural hazards themselves. Action to reduce risk has grown in importance on the international agenda and is seen by many as essential to safeguard sustainable development efforts. International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction in1990, Yokohama Strategy and Plan of Action in 1994, International Strategy for Disaster Reduction in1999, World Conference on Disaster Reduction in 2005, Kobe, Japan, Global Platform in 2006, Second Session of the Global Platform for DRR in 2009, Mid-Term Review of the HFA in 2011 and third Session of Global Platform on DRR and WRC 08-13 May, 2011 in Geneva depict International commitment to reduce the Disaster Risks. Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has started DRR Training Courses in coordination with RCUSS, Kobe University, Japan. Follow-up workshop regarding Urban Disaster Risk Reduction (UDRR) of JICA Ex- Participants was held in Kobe, Japan from November 1st to 3rd of 2010. Three regional groups namely Asia, MENA (Middle East & Africa) and Latin America were created to hold a workshop for UDRR in each region with the support of Research Center for Urban Safety and Security (RCUSS), Kobe university , Group Leader and coordinators were selected from each Region to execute DRR activities. In this Context, this International workshop on 2005 Pakistan Earthquake and Flood Disaster in 2010 was held in Islamabad from 01-06 May 2011. Delegates from USA, Japan, China, Philippines, Bangladesh, & Turkey joined the international workshop to learn the UDRR Lessons learnt from the above two major Disasters and their Recoveries. This helped out the kind of Community Preparedness that can be implemented for the future Disasters in Pakistan, whole of Asia and also in various Courtiers in MENA.
Pakistan covering a total land area of 796,095 sq km, shares its borders with Iran to the West, India to the Southeast, Afghanistan to the North-West, and China in the North. The Arabian Sea lies in its South with a long coastal way. The topography varies from coastal beaches, sandy deserts, plateaus, plains, high mountains to snow-covered peaks. Variable rainfall and extreme variations in temperature characterize the climate in Pakistan. Like other Asian countries, Pakistan continues to suffer from a plethora of natural and human induced hazards that threaten to affect the lives and livelihood of its citizens – natural disasters including floods, earthquakes, landslides, cyclones, and drought to human induced disasters such as fires, road traffic crashes, civil unrest and terrorism, refugees and internally displaced people, health epidemics, industrial accidents and war.
Though natural disasters cannot be avoided by any country but losses both human and economic, could have been minimized, if there was some mechanism devolved to be initially prepared. The Indonesian tsunami and the earthquake in Japan are live examples. But the response to these disasters is commendable especially in case of Japan. Not a single person died due to stamped despite the crowded places where people were stuck. The people seemed to have already been drilled to face such a calamity. It may not be feasible to financially compare Pakistan and other countries in Asia & MENA Region with that of Japan. But Pakistan does not lack in human capacity and can at least have trained personals and have a defined strategy and guidelines that could help us to reduce the risk and damages associated with any disaster. CHEF International (Comprehensive Health & Education Forum International), Rescue 1122 Pakistan and Kobe University Japan, arranged a workshop on disaster risk reduction in Islamabad, Pakistan from 2nd to 5th May 2011. WORKSHOP PLAN OBJECTIVES
• Enhance Disaster (EQ) Preparedness capacity of schools/community for future Disasters in Pakistan and Asia.
• Learn and study DRR lessons learnt from 2005 EQ and 2010 Floods and recovery situations.
• Strengthen human network among ex-JICA participants.
• Produce and execute tangible outputs for vulnerable communities.
• Strengthen international DRR collaboration for community preparedness.
Following were the major proceedings of this DRR workshop.
DAY 1, (May 2, 2011) Preliminary session The day started with the recitation of the Holy Qur’an followed by silence in the memory of those who lost their lives in the North East (Tohokou) Earthquake in Japan. In his address, Professor Dr Muhammad Daud khan (Chairman Board of Directors, CHEF International, Pakistan) welcomed all the distinguished guests and shared his views on disasters, and Disaster Risk Reduction. He elaborated the mandate of CHEF International and its performance in Disasters specially floods in 2010.

It was followed by a short speech from Yasuo Tanaka, Professor & Director, Research Center for Urban Safety and Security (RCUSS), Kobe University, Japan. He stressed upon the importance of disaster mitigation and DRR activities carried out by his institution and JICA. He also shared his views on recent earthquake in North East, Japan and the leakage of Fukoshima nuclear plant and the measures taken by the Japanese people.
Ms. Louise K Comfort, Professor, Graduate School of International Affairs, University of Pittsburgh, USA shared her views and experiences with the audience and expressed her sympathies for the Japanese stricken by recent earthquake. Brig.(R) Niazi from Earthquake Reconstruction & Rehabilitation Authority (ERRA) and Mr. Ahmed Kamal from National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) expressed their views and shared experiences from the previous disasters in Pakistan. They also highlighted the performance of their institutions and challenges faced from time to time. Mr. Nishikata Takatoshi, country representative JICA, Pakistan being the Chief Guest shared his views and role of JICA on DRR and other fields. He assured all out support to the people of Pakistan in disasters.

Towards the end of first session, Dr. Rizwan Naseer, Director General, Rescue 1122, Pakistan, delivered vote of thanks to all delegates and expressed his commitments for emergency preparedness, response and prevention.
Scientific Session
In the scientific session, participants from national and international organizations briefed about their experiences, strategies, current DRR activities and challenges in their countries as per following schedule.
DAY 2,  MAY 3, 2011 Visit to Muzaffarabad (AJK) On the second day, the international participants were taken to Muzaffarabad, the capital of state of Azad Jammu & Kashmir, to visit the 2005 earthquake affected areas and recovery and reconstruction made after that. Delegates visited SERRA head office, where they were welcomed by the Secretary, SDMA and Director SERRA, who made presentation about devastation associated with 2005 earthquake. He highlighted the overall losses, recovery and reconstruction, lessons learnt and challenges faced. He also mentioned major achievements of SERRA and other allied departments.

After refreshment, delegates visited the Community Centre which was donated by Government of Turkey. In this Community Centre, women were imparted with the vocational training like stitching, embroidery and handicrafts skills. Afterwards, participants visited the CMH Hospital (also called Sheikh Khalifa Khalid Bin Anhayan), a generous support from UAE.
Towards the end, the delegates visited the newly constructed campus of University of Muzaffarabad where they were briefed about different educational wings and departments of the university.
On the way back to Islamabad, delegates visited the Emergency Rescue Station, Murree. They were welcomed by Mr. Farooq (Emergency officer). They enjoyed refreshment in pleasant weather conditions and Mountain Rescue Training facility here. Visitors also enjoyed some shopping at Mall Road.
In the evening in Islamabad, the delegates were served with dinner at the Farm House of Rtn. Pervez Ahasn, District Governor, District 3272.
DAY- 3, MAY 4, 2011 Visit to Charsaddah (KPK) Delegates of the international DRR workshop visited CHEF-International head quarters at Charsaddah, Khyber Pakhtun Khwah (KPK). They were warmly welcomed by Professor Muhammad Daud Khan, Chairman CHEF International and Dr. Muhammad Babar Qureshi, CEO / ED, CHEF International and other staff.
The visiting team attended a meeting. Chairman CHEF –International welcomed the visiting guests followed by a presentation from CEO CHEF International on the relief and rehabilitation work undertaken by CHEF-International in flood affected district Charsadda and Peshawar. Emergency Coordinator from CBM Ms Valerie Scherrer made presentation on Disaster and Disability. Center for Disaster preparedness and Management University of Peshawar made a presentation on its area of mandate. Shields were distributed among the visiting delegates. The delegates were also briefed about the premises of CHEF office.
After refreshment, delegates visited the school for Boys at village Agra district Charsadda, which was renovated, refurnished and made accessible for children with disabilities. Team also visited Basic Health Unit (BHU) at Village Jhagra district Peshawar, another flood affected area. The BHU was comprehensively renovated by CHEF and made accessible for the persons having disabilities. On the way back, to Islamabad, the delegates were taken to the City Government Office, Rawalpindi, where Early Warning System (EWS) was installed by the generous support of JICA to monitor the flow of Nala lai. This EWS was being operated and monitored by the Rescue 1122 Rawalpindi and Metrological Department, Islamabad. Dr. Ali ((Emergency officer) gave an overview of the functioning and role of EWS. After that, delegates were taken to the Emergency Rescue Central Station, Rawalpindi, where District Emergency Officer, briefed the participants and distributed the shields.
DAY-4, MAY 5, 2011 PRESENTATION OF EX – JICA PARTICIPANTS:
Dr. Zafar Shah, Ms. Shelby Acosta Ruiz, MS. Josephine R. SY, Mr. Abrar Ismaeel, Peng Yubin, Ms. Berna Burcak Basbug Erkan, Alpaslan Hamdi Kuzucuoglu, Sabiha Yeasmin, Waqas A Qureshi & Rabia Iftikhar.
Summary of Day -1 was presented by MR. Yasuo Tanaka, RCUSS, Kobe University, Japan. Similarly, Summary of Day-2&3 regarding field visits was presented by Ms. Louise K Comfort, Graduate School of International Affairs, University of Pittsburgh, USA in which she reviewed field visits and put forward DRR steps to be taken in future.

Group Work Participants were divided into three groups for DRR initiatives to be taken in future. Group A consisted of Mr. Sohail Ayaz Khan, Ms. Shelby Acosta, Ms. SabihaYeasmin, Mr. Alpaslan Hamdi Kuzucuoglu, Mr. Waqas A Qureshi, Mr. Kamal Ahmed and Ms. Deeba Shahnaz with the theme Accessibility for Disaster Recovery and Reconstruction Sites and Mainstreaming DRR programs / projects into development planning. Following were the recommendations.
• Pre Disaster
– Data Collection / consolidation
– Digitize to a GIS Data Base for quick accessibility/decision making
• Leading to a comprehensive contingency plan(s)
– Guidelines should be screened/ scrutinized and developed (protocols)
• WHO DOES WHAT
• Focal person/agency responsible for disaster management at various levels.
– Rapid Assessment to be standardized to avoid any misleading judgments / confusions
• DRR component should be mainstreamed into
– policy,
– institutional,
– Programs/organizational,
– community and
– Individual level.
GROUP B consisted of Mr. Yasuo Tanaka. Dr. Zafar Shah, Mr.Abrar Ismail, Ms. Rabbiya Iftikhar, Mr. Yubin Peng, Mr. Moazzam Ali toor, Dr. Shahzad Khan, Dr. Fatima and Mr. Haibat Khan with the theme of School / Community safety program and Educational Material / Curriculum development. Following were the recommendations. Selective risk assessment of schools in disaster prone areas Communicate the analyzed data to the concerned authority i.e. ERRA, NDMA and public at large Increase awareness amongst the community about schools Risk assessment of school areas Development of safety/ disaster material for schools Incorporation of that material in school syllabus.
GROUP C consisted of, Dr. Babar Qureshi, Ms. Louise K Comfort, Dr. Haroon Awan, Ms. Josphine Reyes, Mr. Berna Burcak, Ms. Mehnaz Khan, Mr. Shehzad Nazim with the theme of Advocacy and Capacity Building. Following were the recommendations. 1- National framework for mitigation that would include all stakeholders in terms of education, training, evaluation should be provided (media, chamber of commerce, boy scouts, girl scouts, civil defense, unions, etc…) 2- Peer review of work that has already been done is necessary. Regular monitoring of program performance is needed.

3- Establishment of National Observatories at provincial + state level is recommended. These should be linked with BHU-Basic Health Units, schools etc to provide access to community households and organizations. 4- Develop a National Curriculum to enable sustainable education. A National Curriculum helps to provide Capacity Building for different groups of people (adults, elderly, youth, disabled…) Use of information technologies + media + communication devices can be linked with this purpose (e.g: use of twitter, facebook, mobile phones)
5- Development of National / Local Cluster Framework based on UN Cluster Framework / UN OCHA / UNDRO. ISLAMABAD DECLARATION Keeping in view the recommendation of all the groups, following declaration was signed by CHEF International, Rescue 1122 and RCUSS, Kobe University, Japan.
ISLAMABAD DECLARATION ON DISASTER RISK REDUCTION IN ASIA AND MENA REGIONS
We, delegates of the International Workshop on Disaster Risk Reduction, have gathered from 2 to 5 May, 2011 at Islamabad, Pakistan. Over 60 participants from seven countries attended the workshop (List of Participants is attached herewith). We express our sincere condolences and sympathy to, and solidarity with, the people and communities adversely affected by disasters, particularly those devastated by the unprecedented earthquake, floods and tsunami in Asia, Middle East and North Africa, Latin America and other countries in the world. We commend the efforts made by the Governments, NGO’s and International communities for extending marvelous assistance to overcome such devastations.

In this International workshop on Disaster Risk Reduction held from 2-5 May, 2011 at Islamabad, the Disaster Risk Reduction work in Pakistan and rest of the regions was reviewed and discussed by learning from the lessons from 2005 Kashmir Earthquake and 2010 Pakistan Floods. We have learned much, including about gaps and challenges; nevertheless, we are deeply concerned that communities continue to experience excessive losses of precious human lives and valuable property as well as serious injuries, disabilities and major displacements due to various disasters worldwide. We are determined to reduce disaster related losses of lives and other social, economic and environmental assets. Thus, we summarize and agree in writing to further pursue the DRR visions and action plans expressed during the Workshop in the following categories:
 Accessibility for Disaster recovery & reconstruction sites
 Mainstreaming DRR in Development Planning
 School/Community Safety Program
 Educational Material/ Curriculum
 Advocacy & Capacity Building
We, therefore, agree to work towards implementation of the DRR vision in support of national policies and guidelines already outlined as above. It is further elaborated that more workshops shall be held in future through the collaboration of similarly working organizations with particular emphasis on the above mentioned parameters We strongly acknowledge the efforts and extend our heartfelt appreciation to the KOBE University, Japan, People of Japan, CHEF International and Rescue 1122 Pakistan for holding this International Workshop on Disaster Risk Reduction at Islamabad, Pakistan.


Islamabad – 05/05/2011

(Dr. Muhammad Babar Quershi) CEO/ ED, CHEF International, Pakistan
(Dr. Rizwan Naseer) Director General, Rescue 1122, Pakistan
(Yasuo Tanaka) Professor and Director, RCUSS, Kobe University, Japan


Towards the end, certificates were distributed among all the participants of the workshop. Press Conference Press conference was held to brief the media about the outcomes and future initiatives and collaborations of the DRR workshop. The workshop ended with the commitment for all out cooperation and assistance on the outcomes to achieve the goal of “Disaster Resilient Societies”.
References
1. Government of Pakistan. Available at: www.pakistan.gov.pk
2. World Disasters Report 2003, Geneva, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
3. CHEF International. Available at: www.chef.org.pk
4. Rescue 1122,available at: www.rescue.gov.pk
5. Kobe University, Available at: http://www.kobe-u.ac.jp/en/about-kobe-university/history/history.htm




2010 International Follow-Up Workhop Kobe JAPAN


Completed 2004-2011 JICA Training:
JICA Group Training on DRR Strategy for Urban Earthquake has completed its 8 year activity.
2004 to 2008, about 10 participants in Fall course every year.
2009 to 2011, Spring and Fall courses in every year
DRR Strategy based on Proactive & Holistic approach; Risk Assessment, Risk Management, and Risk Communication

Outcomes of JICA-RCUSS Training:
More than 100 participants completed the training course.
Completed twice the Follow-Up Workshop in Japan by inviting JICA ex-participants.
Three regional groups were formed; Asia, Middle East & North Africa (MENA), and Latin America by selecting the leaders and the coordinators




Organized  regional workshops:
Asia: 2011,May 1 to 4 in Islamabad, Pakistan based on 2005 Kashimire EQ and 2010 Flood
MENA: 2011,Dec 1 to 3 in Ankara, Izmit, Istanbul in Turkey based on seismic risk in MENA (e.g, 1999 & 2011 Turkey EQs and others)
Latin America: 2012,March 5 to 7 in Bogota in Colombia based on UDRR in LATAM & Information Sharing

Lessons learnt from recent EQ:
The checking system for EQ affects on structures and its judgment
Lessons from the 1999 Turkey EQ have been implemented?
How to improve our urban development and renovation
“Invest Today for Safer Tomorrow” :UNISDR Campaign
The Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami (GEJET) posed problems of a Super-Wide disaster and a Compound (Cascading) disaster
The Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake was Urban EQ disaster
Spring & Fall JICA participants have been to Iwate prefecture to observe the damages.
For 2015 UNWCDR, Japan has proposed to organize – Future strategy of HFA??

RCUSS will continue its JICA training “DRR strategy for Mega-Disasters” for the period of  2012 to 2014.
Over 100 JICA ex-participants have a common framework for proactive and holistic DRR; Risk Assessment, Risk Management, and Risk Communication
Many thanks for the supporting organization in each country for JICA ex-participant Workshops

Prof.Yasuo Tanaka

2007 International Follow-up Workshop Collaborations and Training on Disaster Risk Reduction- Kobe JAPAN


First Follow-up Workshop is held in November 2007. Main topic of Workshop was International Collborations and Training on Disaster Risk Reduction.
http://www.rcuss.kobe-u.ac.jp/JICA/RCUSS071107/jicafollowup.html

Workshop consisted of two parts:

Part 1-Successes and Problems of Implementing DRR Tools at Home
Panelists:
Leonardo GONZALEZ NERI (Mexico)
Saud TAYSEER (Mohammad Nour) AL (Jordan)
Roberto Bautista TIGLAO (Philippines)
Alpaslan Hamdi KUZUCUOGLU (Turkey)
Nicolas Enrique ALFARO LANUZA (Nicaragua)



Part 2-Future Expectations on DRR Educationand Training
Panelists:
Kambod Amini HOSSEINI (Iran)
Jorge Milciades OLARTE (Peru)
Abdelaziz KHERROUBI (Algeria)
Miguel Angel JAIMES TELLEZ (Mexico)
Chandrani Bandyopadhyay NEOGI (India)

Coordinators: Prof. Yasuo TANAKA & Prof. Fuad BENDEMIRAD

Monday, October 1, 2012

Skype Conf. on our NGO setting up & 3 regional leaders' meeting

Dear All ex-JICA participants to RCUSS, Kobe Univ. training on DRR Strategy for Urban Earthquake,

Yesterday, Sept. 30th, Dr. Shah from Pakistan and Mr. Fuentes from Chile and myself Yasuo Tanaka have discussed over the Skype on the following two topics;

1) To further strengthen our network of ex-JICA participants, should we create our own NGO and registered in some country?
2) To discuss further more details of such NGO registration, whether or not three leaders from ASIA, MENA, and Latin America should meet in Kuala Lumpur this December?

After the Skype conference, we have decided to continue studying how to register and operate the NGO and bring our study results to meet in December for the 3 regional leaders' meeting.

We will post any further developments on this, and all of our colleagues to give us your comments on how to strengthen our ex-JICA participants network. Please send your comments to "jica.rcuss@gmail.com".

Best regards,
Yasuo Tanaka