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Floods, cyclones … business and governments must wake up to disaster

Wed, 22 May 2013 13:54:08 +1200

Companies will be looking increasingly at investment opportunities in Africa and Asia in coming decades as that is where growth is strong, but for most of them the risk of disasters is unlikely to be on the radar. Steps are being taken to try to change this mindset.

In exploring investment opportunities, companies will look at political risk, access to natural resources and infrastructure. However, country briefings, analyst reports and business forecasts rarely mention disaster risk. Analysts are unlikely to mention the threat from volcanoes and tsunamis when looking at investment opportunities in, say, Indonesia.

Conversely, emerging economies will be competing to attract foreign investors by offering tax holidays and special economic zones. In the rush for growth, disaster risk takes a back seat for all parties concerned. Moreover, disasters disproportionately affect the most vulnerable people in the poorest countries.

Since 1977, the government of Thailand has granted tax exemptions and import duty reductions to companies investing in industrial activity. This attracted considerable foreign direct investment (FDI) in the 1980s, particularly from Japanese companies. The problem is that much of the investment has been in the flood-prone regions of the country. In 2011, flooding in Thailand caused $15bn-20bn (£9bn-13bn).

On the western coast of India, in Jagatsinghpur district, more than 8,000 people died in the Orissa super cyclone in 1999, but the district is being considered for the largest FDI project in India's history.

A report from the UN office for disaster risk reduction (UNISDR) last week warned that it will become increasingly untenable for governments and businesses to sweep the risk of disaster under the carpet, citing the examples of hurricane Sandy in the US, the Japanese earthquake and tsunami, and the Thai river floods.

It said economic losses from disasters have spun out of control, and called on the business community to incorporate disaster risk management into their investment strategies to avoid further losses. The report, Creating shared value: the business case for disaster risk reduction, reviewed disaster losses in 56 countries. It found that direct losses from floods, earthquakes and drought have been underestimated by at least half. So far, this century, losses from disasters amount to $2.5tn.

There have been international efforts to shift aid priorities towards risk reduction. After the Indian Ocean tsunami that killed almost 230,000 people in 2004, the UN general assembly agreed the Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA), in which 168 countries put their names to a 10-year commitment to disaster risk reduction.

At the Rio+20 summit in June, governments were urged to "accelerate implementation". Hyogo, a non-binding framework, called for a 1% allocation of national development budgets to risk reduction, along with 10% of humanitarian aid and 10% of reconstruction and recovery funds. The HFA is set to be renewed in 2015, giving a greater role to the private sector.

The UN sees the private sector as crucial as trillions of dollars are set to pour into "hazard-exposed" regions. How the private sector – accounting for 70-85% of investment – decides to place its funds will largely determine how much disaster risk is accumulated and how underlying risk is addressed.

With that in mind, UNISDR has teamed up with PricewaterhouseCoopers, the consultancy firm, to foster private-public sector collaboration. The message for businesses if that if they invest in cyclone- or flood-prone areas, they may make money in the short term but once disaster hits, an asset turns into a liability.

"In a world of ongoing population growth, rapid urbanisation, climate change and an approach to investment that continually discounts disaster risk, this increased potential for future losses is of major concern," says Margareta Wahlström, the UN special representative for disaster risk reduction. "In the wake of the global financial crisis, disaster risk stands as a new multi-trillion dollar class of toxic assets of unrealised liabilities."

Wahlström, who will attend a conference on disaster risk in Geneva this week, jokes that her office is one of the UN's best-kept secrets. Her goal is to get the private sector and developing country governments to act in a mutually reinforcing virtuous circle. If business becomes more risk-sensitive, governments will be encouraged to invest more heavily in risk reduction. This, in turn, will become a basic requirement for competitive countries and cities to attract investment.

But she acknowledges that much work is needed to bridge the gap as governments and the private sector instinctively want to pass on the costs to each other, a problem that is likely to be exacerbated in the current economic climate.

"Things are changing but of course it's too slow," she says.

Nikki Kaye: speech to disaster risk reduction forum

Wed, 22 May 2013 10:52:28 +1200

Tuesday, 21 May 2013, 4:56 pm
Speech: New Zealand Government

Speech to the 4th Session of the Global Platform For Disaster Risk Reduction, Geneva, Switzerland

Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, katoa.

It is a privilege to be giving this address at the opening ceremony of the
4th Session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction.

New Zealand has been challenged by the major recovery and rebuild of Canterbury both in terms of scale and complexity, following the earthquakes of 2010 and 2011.

We have been rebuilding not just our infrastructure, but also our communities.

For a small nation, losing 185 people, including foreign citizens, has been hard.

But New Zealand was able to respond well to the earthquakes because we have had 40 years developing and refining our systems to respond to the many hazards and risks that come with our geology and unique location.

We also know that the situation could have been a lot worse if we had not invested in high building standards.

New Zealand’s approach to emergency management

Our approach to emergency management is based on building resilience through risk reduction and readiness, followed by response and recovery when disaster occurs.

The focus is on managing the risks rather than the hazards.

Our strong framework is based on legislation, plans and arrangements that cover roles and responsibilities at all levels.

It starts at a community level with the premise that each community knows best both what their hazards are and how to respond to them.

And as happened in Canterbury, it can scale up to involve the best of national resources.

We were also fortunate to have kind offers of international assistance and thank you again to all those countries - many represented here today - that reached out and assisted us at our time of need.

Canterbury earthquakes response and recovery

It is important to acknowledge the scale of the impact and the resources needed to manage the recovery.

New Zealand has established a Minister for Canterbury Earthquake Recovery, and a government department – the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority (CERA).

I want to acknowledge the Minister, the Honourable Gerry Brownlee, for his tireless efforts and dedication to the recovery effort. I also want to acknowledge Roger Sutton, who is here at the Global Platform representing CERA.

The Canterbury earthquake event has been an unfolding sequence. Unlike a flood which eventually recedes, Canterbury has been hit by sizeable aftershocks. These have not only tested the already damaged buildings but put considerable mental strain on our people.

Buildings and infrastructure

Our building code was already strong, which meant structures held up well to the incredible shaking force of the earthquakes. This meant many people could stay in their homes, even though they were damaged.

To give you a better understanding of the scale of the damage, of the 185,000 houses in the region, 170,000 residents reported damage. More than 20,000 new houses will need to be built.

We have had to systematically clear the Central Business District of Christchurch city of damaged buildings. This programme will demolish more than 1000 sizeable buildings.

The New Zealand Government has purchased more than 7000 of the worst affected residential properties. This is about aiming to give the owners the ability to move to a new housing situation that best suits their needs.

We designed a new model for the repair of horizontal infrastructure that will rebuild almost all of it inside five years.

We have set out a bold plan to regenerate and rebuild the Christchurch city centre. This is a modern, planned urban environment which incorporates high quality social and public services.

Economic recovery

We held our economy together with an emergency wage subsidy. This gave businesses time to reorganise and regroup. This also kept people in employment and able to survive.

Our challenge is that the cost is $40 billion which represents over 20 per cent of our National GDP.

We have invested in advance in earthquake science and New Zealanders have taken out extensive insurance cover. This means we have strong foundations to fund our recovery.

The way forward

Our recovery has been built on the vision of rebuilding the city, not as it was, but better.

Looking to the future, New Zealand has focused on some key areas to improve our emergency management system.

We have a programme of work to strengthen our system including improving our response for vulnerable people and the training of our volunteer workforce.

Investing in science and risk assessment

To mitigate risks we first need to have a strong understanding of them.

Sound science and evidence-based research is essential to improve hazard risk management.

This information must be communicated in ways that are understandable to decision-makers and communities at risk.

The New Zealand Government has supported taking a strategic approach to national investment in natural hazards research with clear priorities and collaboration across science providers and the community. Our Government has put more funds into natural hazards research.

Improving the legislative framework for building safety

New Zealand’s seismic risk to buildings has been long understood and building designs and structural codes have improved over time to reflect
best practice.

Newer building stock generally performed satisfactorily during the quakes, with only a few system and standards improvements needed.

However, a legacy of older building stock poses significant risk within many urban centres around New Zealand.

A key issue for Government is to consider ways to manage older buildings which do not meet modern structural standards (earthquake prone buildings), while providing for public safety, maintaining heritage values and economic viability.

Providing clarity of roles and responsibilities

One of the key lessons from the Canterbury response was the need to ensure clear lines of control.

In particular, the need to focus on avoiding over-reliance on critical persons or systems that may not be available on the day.

Another area of focus is having sufficient numbers of trained personnel to enable a sustained response over many days.

Improving community awareness, preparedness and participation

In terms of community participation, we have learned the importance of building upon existing community networks and involving and trusting communities to know both their environment and what works for them.

We are exploring how to better harness social media to organise self-response, in areas where communities are best placed to help themselves, or where their needs do not match immediate response priorities.

There are some amazing stories of how communities have come together in Canterbury not only to support each other but also to take action.

Ultimately, how well communities fare depends on their level of awareness about, and preparedness for, the risks they face. This applies to households, communities and businesses.

Emergencies by their very nature are extraordinary events, and stretch the everyday capabilities and processes of all involved.

I would like to recognise how New Zealand’s young people responded. In particular I would like to acknowledge Sam Johnson, a student from Canterbury University who organised a student volunteer army to help Cantabrians immediately after the earthquakes. This “army” was made up of informal groups who helped with non-lifesaving tasks, in particular cleaning up soil liquefaction on streets and around homes.

Looking forward, in the post-quake landscape, an opportunity exists to do things differently and collaboratively for young people.

Summary

The wants, behaviours and level of understanding of people and communities that can lead to hazard risk exposure are varied and complex, and often deep rooted.

Determining the best means of addressing risks in a comprehensive and integrated manner, and getting broad agreement to it, is a considerable challenge.

This can be achieved through regulatory frameworks and democratic institutions that deliver hazard risk management strategies.

In terms of recovery two years in, we are sensitive to communities that are weary and eager to get on with their lives.

We understand that central government has a responsibility to maintain momentum of response to a disaster when the affected communities’ inbuilt resilience wears thin.

New Zealand is reviewing and strengthening many of our core statutory instruments and processes that underpin hazard management and support community resilience outcomes.

In closing, I would like to talk about international collaboration.

Our international development programme draws on our domestic experience to help our Pacific and ASEAN neighbours. New Zealand is proud to be investing in and building the capability of national disaster management offices in the Pacific.

It is appropriate to design an emergency management system that is right for individual environments and countries

But there are areas that are internationally relevant, such as science, where information and skills are transportable and can be shared.

It is our desire that through the tragedy of the Canterbury earthquakes, other nations will be more resilient as a result of our investment and our contribution to risk reduction.

That is why we are all here. This conference is an important opportunity for global leaders and their Governments, non-government organisations and technical experts to form relationships that will save lives.

Thank you.

To view in full see Scoop.

It’s no accident: Oxfam calls for radical change

Wed, 22 May 2013 10:49:18 +1200

Governments and aid agencies have to tackle the politics and power at the heart of the increasing effects of climate change, rising inequality and people’s vulnerability to disasters, according to a new report published today by international agency Oxfam.

The report, No Accident: Resilience and the inequality of risk, shows that the risk of disaster is being dumped on to millions of people living in poverty while the lifestyles of the rich world and the middle class in emerging countries benefit from relentlessly pumping carbon into the atmosphere. And, while in the rich world the majority of people can cope relatively well with unexpected shocks, most people in poor countries cannot. Some 90 per cent of workers in the least developed countries have no social security and 97 per cent of people on low incomes have no insurance cover, making them highly vulnerable to disasters, food hikes and or illness – 100 million people fall into poverty just because they have to pay for health care. Women are particularly vulnerable because of their economic, political and social status.

The incidence of extreme weather-related events is increasing and more people are living in places that are susceptible to disasters. Since 1970 the number of people exposed to floods and cyclones has doubled.

“Inequality is driving up poor people’s vulnerability. Vulnerability is not a random twist of fate. Risk is actively being dumped on to people. While rich countries reap the benefits of carbon-spewing economic growth, those in the world’s poorer countries suffer the consequences. Aid can help soften the blow but if we are to tackle the injustice of this we have to deal with the inequality of power and politics that make people vulnerable. That means rich countries reducing the risk of climate change, governments everywhere reducing inequalities and giving poor people a voice in decisions that affect their lives. It also means the aid world changing the way it does business and working more effectively at supporting people to cope better with crises,” said Debbie Hillier author of the report.

The report calls for a fundamental shift both in overcoming emergencies and reducing entrenched poverty. It calls on governments and aid agencies to ensure that efforts to boost economic growth are matched by efforts to manage risk and to reduce inequality – they must go hand in hand. National governments must ensure that their poorest citizens are protected in times of crisis and can access essential services like health and education, funded by more progressive taxation.

The aid world, including Oxfam, also needs to change and end the artificial divide between short term disaster response and long term re-building and development work. This will require both a transformation in working culture and much more flexible funding.

The report also goes on to say that development work will not be predominately in stable environments. The world is shifting radically. By 2015, half of all people living on less than $1.25 a day will be in fragile states and conflicts, and millions more will face disasters from global economic or environmental changes that seem out of our control.

Oxfam says that the aid world’s new focus on ‘resilience’ – building poor people’s ability to cope with crises – is far too much focussed on technical fixes and needs to take into account the politics and power that make people vulnerable.

These issues are highly relevant to our Pacific neighbours. Most of the Pacific countries are small, remote and fragile states, coupled with a lack of government programmes for social protection and high vulnerability to natural disasters.

Barry Coates, Executive Director of Oxfam New Zealand, called for changes to the way New Zealand engages with the Pacific. “Dealing with risk and strengthening resilience requires a re-think in government policies towards the Pacific. We need greater coherence in our policies and interventions including more capacity development as part of responding to disasters, building resilience to risk into the core of our aid programming, addressing inequalities and a lack of social protection, and recognising the Pacific’s vulnerability in our government policies on climate change, security and trade negotiations.

“We need to ensure that we are acting to reduce risks faced by the Pacific rather than adding to them,” Coates says.

To view in full see Scoop.

The New CILSS Climate Change and Sustainable Land Management Platform

Tue, 21 May 2013 14:35:01 +1200

The Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel (Comité permanent Inter-Etats de Lutte contre la Sécheresse dans le Sahel; CILSS in French) was created in 1973, after the devastating droughts that hit the region. CILSS currently has 13 member States: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Chad, Côte d'Ivoire, Gambia, Guinea, Bissau Guinea, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal and Togo.

CILSS' mandate is to invest in food security research and fight against the effects of drought and desertification, with the aim of achieving a new ecological equilibrium in the Sahel. The CILSS Executive Secretary is based in Burkina Faso. The Committee has two technical institutions, the AGRHYMET Regional Center, based in Niger, in charge of information, research and training; and the Sahel Institute, based in Mali, in charge of agro-socio-economic research coordination.

Climate change impacts in West Africa are particularly severe due to the low resilience capacity of the majority of local populations. Moreover, data and information on climate change, and particularly on adaptation, are sparse and sometimes difficult to obtain. One of the greatest challenges of the region in coping with the impacts of climate change is therefore access to data, state of the art science, news, policies, as well as tools and funding opportunities that are specific to the West African region. West African stakeholders often lack the capacity and information related to climate change issues. The CILSS climate change and sustainable management platform has been designed to fill this gap.

The platform is a joint effort funded by the FFEM (Fonds Français pour l'Environnement Mondial) and the technical assistance offered by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, implemented by the “Adaptation to climate change in agriculture and water sectors in West Africa” project team based at the AGRHYMET regional Center.

The platform was launched in November 2012 and allows visitors to find key information on topics related to, inter alia, climate science, adaptation, mitigation, and governance, with a focus on the agricultural and water sectors. A special section is dedicated to tools available for download or accessible on the web. For example, many tools dedicated to mainstreaming climate change, or carrying out vulnerability and impacts assessments are presented.

The platform also features a resources section, which lists documents focused on African issues, including documents published by the CILSS, such as “les études Sahel” or the special AGRHYMET Regional Center bulletin dedicated to climate change in Sahel. West African policies, such as national adaptation programmes of action (NAPAs), national communications, or regional documents , as well as documents with an international scope,such as the reports of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) are available for download. In addition, a database is divided into three parts, namely institutions, training and AMMA. The latter is an international interdisciplinary programme dealing with the West African Monsoon, its variability and its impacts on communities in the region. The AMMA database offers scientific data on this phenomenon.

Another section of the platform is dedicated to the ongoing projects of CILSS and AGRHYMET, including: FFEM CC on the integration of climate change adaptation in the water and agricultural sectors in West Africa; the Climate for Development in Africa (ClimDev) - Institutional Support to African Climate Institution Project (ISACIP); the Global Climate Change Alliance (GCCA); and the Regional Program on Sustainable Land Management and adaptation to climate change (PRGDT). The platform also presents technical and engineering training programmes implemented at the AGRHYMET regional center.

So far, the “opportunity,” “agenda,” and “news” pages, featuring regularly updated information, are the most popular ones. They provide information on, for example, up-to-date funding opportunities, training courses, workshops, and calls for projects. The platform also offers a presentation of the CILSS and lists useful links. The majority of the information presented is adapted to, and focused on, the West African context.

To view in full, see International Institute of Sustainable Development

Cyclone destroys homes and crops in Bangladesh

Tue, 21 May 2013 11:19:39 +1200

Despite the weakening of Cyclone Mahasen before it made landfall on Thursday last week, thousands of people have been displaced and homes and crops destroyed.

NEW DELHI - A killer cyclone that struck Bangladesh four days ago has damaged the homes of tens of thousands of people and destroyed their crops, aid groups said, warning that many coastal communities were still in need.

With wind speeds of up to 90 kmph (56 mph) and heavy rains, cyclone Mahasen buffeted Bangladesh, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and India in the Bay of Bengal on May 16, killing at least 75 people in the region.

Despite fears of a humanitarian catastrophe, the cyclone weakened to a tropical storm as it made landfall in Bangladesh, where one million people had been evacuated. But while the death toll was relatively low, aid workers said initial assessments showed some coastal areas had been seriously affected.

"Reports from our partners on the ground tell us that there has been a big impact on shelter. While people were evacuated during the storm, they have now returned to find their homes partially or fully damaged," said Cassie Dummett, deputy regional manager for Catholic Relief Services.

"There has also been an impact on farming communities who have, in some areas, lost 60 percent of their standing crops of rice paddy."

Dummett said some populations were living amid the wreckage of their homes, while others were inhabiting damaged houses because they had nowhere else to go. Bangladeshi authorities says the storm had disrupted the lives of 1.3 million people, with almost 100,000 mainly mud-and-straw homes full or partially destroyed.

EARLY WARNING HELPED

Bangladesh - one of the world's most densely populated countries - is highly vulnerable to natural disasters, including cyclones, storm surges, droughts, floods and earthquakes, which often affect millions of people.

Cyclone Sidr in 2007 killed around 3,500 people in Bangladesh. A year later, cyclone Nargis devastated neighbouring Myanmar and left up to 140,000 dead.

The United Nations said heavy rain and flooding caused by Mahasen had killed eight people in Sri Lanka and affected around 12,000 people, while 17 had died in Bangladesh. At least 50 Muslim Rohingyas were also killed after their boat capsized as they attempted to flee the storm from Myanmar to Bangladesh.

In Myanmar, where there were major concerns for displaced Rohingya populations and more than 120,000 evacuated in Rakhine state, the storm's impact was minimal.

"There was no real impact as a result of the storm in Myanmar which was very fortunate. We, the U.N agencies, local authorities and NGOS, prepared ahead of time and relocated people to safer ground," Kirsten Mildren, public information officer for the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, told Thomson Reuters Foundation by phone from Bangkok.

The United Nations also commended Bangladesh's preparedness, saying that the disaster-prone low-lying nation made sure the right measures were in place and communities in the path of the storm were safe and well informed.

"While unfortunately there has been a loss of life, the government demonstrated its commitment to disaster risk reduction and have taken the necessary preparedness steps to prevent a catastrophe," Pascal Villeneuve, the U.N. Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh, said in a statement.

To view in full, see Alertnet

Disability Inclusive Disaster Risk Management: Voices from the field and good practices

Mon, 20 May 2013 09:51:21 +1200

As disasters have such a huge impact on human lives, it is important to make Disaster Risk Management inclusive to all. CBM and its partners have launched a key publication on good practices in this important field. It gives examples of disability inclusive Disaster Risk Management, showing persons with disabilities as active participants in Disaster Risk Response interventions.

What Inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction means

Disasters have a huge impact on human infrastructure, lives and livelihoods. They can result from natural causes (earthquakes, floods, cyclones, etc.) or from human-influenced factors (like climate change and conflicts), which can lead to food insecurity and displacement of large populations.

While it remains crucial to understand and reduce the human effect in creating disasters, natural causes will continue. The key in diminishing their impact is to reduce people’s vulnerability. Through inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) programmes, incorporated in human development plans and poverty reduction programmes, risks can be reduced and communities’ resilience to disasters can be strengthened.

Persons with disabilities are often overlooked throughout the disaster management cycle and especially during relief operations, and are seldom considered as important actors in conflict prevention even though they are often more exposed during conflicts and displacement. The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), in its articles 11 and 32, requires that persons with disabilities benefit from and participate in disaster relief, emergency response and disaster risk reduction strategies.

About this publication

This publication would like to contribute with advocating for a more inclusive DRR where persons with disabilities are active participants and not overlooked in relief and response actions. The practices and experiences presented here are challenging the stereotype of persons with disabilities as helpless victims, and instead showing them as effective agents in changing this exclusionary system. Their voices are introduced here to demonstrate that with the right attitude and knowledge, and by making sure to provide equal opportunities for all, inclusion is possible.

Through these testimonies and individual stories, the capacity of persons with disabilities and their families in making disaster risk reduction plans and programs inclusive are shown. If supported by well-informed and disability-aware humanitarian organisations, governmental authorities and international organisations, there is possibility to make sure that persons with disabilities, 15% of the world’s population, have equal opportunity to improve their resilience towards disasters.

The good practices

Eleven good practices of Disability inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction experiences have been gathered, that show concrete practical examples of how persons with disabilities are active participants in various DRR interventions. Organisations developing sustainable resilience mechanisms to disasters and climate change effects have become aware of the added value that trained and knowledgeable persons with disabilities bring.

What Inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction means

About this publication

The good practices

To view the report in full, see cbm's website

Expected low death toll in Mahasen vindicates disaster preparedness

Mon, 20 May 2013 09:48:39 +1200

Myanmar, Bangladesh and India have avoided a potential catastrophe as Cyclone Mahasen weakened to a tropical storm as it made landfall in Bangladesh on Thursday.But fears remain that some remote areas may have experienced some destruction. IOM staff are taking part in joint assessments in the Chittagong division of Bangladesh and western Myanmar to determine if assistance is needed.

Myanmar, Bangladesh and India have avoided a potential catastrophe as Cyclone Mahasen weakened to a tropical storm as it made landfall in Bangladesh on Thursday.

But fears remain that some remote areas may have experienced some destruction. IOM staff are taking part in joint assessments in the Chittagong division of Bangladesh and western Myanmar to determine if assistance is needed.

"The storm was weaker than expected, but we have to commend the preparedness work done by the governments of Bangladesh and Myanmar and their partners to get people to safety and ensure that communities were ready," said Brian Kelly, IOM's Asia-Pacific Emergency Advisor.

"If this same storm had hit 20 years ago, we might have seen thousands of deaths. As it is, people are already leaving the storm shelters to go home," he added.

Some deaths have been reported in Bangladesh, where over a million people were evacuated to purpose-built storm shelters and public buildings. The caution was justified: in 1970, Cyclone Bhola killed some 400,000 people, Cyclone Sidr killed nearly 4,000 people in 2007, and Cyclone Aila killed some 200 people two years later.

Earlier this week seven persons died and thousands were displaced in Sri Lanka when heavy rains, caused by Mahasen, washed over the north and east of the island.

Concerns in Myanmar have also eased. Over 200,000 people were evacuated from vulnerable locations, and humanitarian aid was pre-positioned. Initial impact assessments in and around the city of Sittwe started this morning. While information is still scant, initial indications seem to suggest that the damage has been minimal.

IOM will continue to play an active role in the humanitarian community's ongoing efforts to help communities impacted by the storm.

"If this same storm had hit 20 years ago, we might have seen thousands of deaths. As it is, people are already leaving the storm shelters to go home," he added.

Earlier this week seven persons died and thousands were displaced in Sri Lanka when heavy rains, caused by Mahasen, washed over the north and east of the island.

IOM will continue to play an active role in the humanitarian community's ongoing efforts to help communities impacted by the storm.

To view in full, see Relief Web

Disaster response and climate change in the pacific research report 2013

Mon, 20 May 2013 09:31:06 +1200

This report: 'Understanding the Pacific’s adaptive capacity to emergencies in the context of climate change' focusses on the nexus between disasters, human health and climate change in the Pacific, given the need to consider how to support organisations and the disaster response sector more broadly to cope with the added burden of climate change.The purpose of this research was to assist in enhancing long term adaptive capacity by informing policy makers and disaster response practitioners on what is needed for effective disaster response in the face of climate change. Four countries were selected for in-depth research: Fiji, Vanuatu, Cook Islands and Samoa.

The links between climate change, natural disasters and human health are becoming

better understood and reveal the need for humanitarian response organisations to

incorporate climate change considerations into their planning and response strategies.

However, most disaster response organisations’ capacity is already over-extended in

dealing with existing disasters. In particular, Ministries of Health across the Pacific

often struggle to meet current health challenges, and face difficulties in in responding to

the additional and growing health impacts relating to climate change. This research

focused on the nexus between disasters, human health and climate change in the

Pacific, given the need to consider how to support organisations and the disaster

response sector more broadly to cope with the added burden of climate change.

The purpose of this research was to assist in enhancing long term adaptive capacity by

informing policy makers and disaster response practitioners on what is needed for

effective disaster response in the face of climate change. The research defined

‘adaptive capacity’ as the ability of a system to adjust to climate change (including

climate variability and extremes), to moderate potential damages, to take advantage of

opportunities, or to cope with the consequences. The primary objectives of the

research were:

• To provide recommendations to policy makers and practitioners in the Australian

and Pacific disaster and emergency response sectors on current adaptive

capacity of Pacific island countries (PICs) to rapid onset climate related

disasters, and what resources are likely to be needed in the coming years to

enhance this capacity;

• To inform improved planning and more effective response through analysis of

the Australian emergency services and related organisations’ capacity, role and

obligations to assist PICs in times of disaster.

The research set out to investigate adaptive capacity from two perspectives. Firstly, it

investigated the adaptive capacity of the system of disaster response in PICs in terms

of internal coordination, capacity, and how external assistance is sought and received.

Secondly, it investigated the adaptive capacity of Australian emergency response

organisations to provide effective disaster response, given the potentially heightened

risk of simultaneous disasters under a changing climate. Analysis also included how

external agencies might play a role in enhancing PIC’s internal adaptive capacity. Four

countries were selected for in-depth research: Fiji, Vanuatu, Cook Islands and Samoa

– all of which are exposed to tropical cyclones, allowing for consistency in assessing

response to rapid onset disasters.

The primary objectives of the research were:

• To provide recommendations to policy makers and practitioners in the Australian and Pacific disaster and emergency response sectors on current adaptive capacity of Pacific island countries (PICs) to rapid onset climate related disasters, and what resources are likely to be needed in the coming years to enhance this capacity;

• To inform improved planning and more effective response through analysis of the Australian emergency services and related organisations’ capacity, role and obligations to assist PICs in times of disaster.

The research set out to investigate adaptive capacity from two perspectives. Firstly, it investigated the adaptive capacity of the system of disaster response in PICs in terms of internal coordination, capacity, and how external assistance is sought and received. Secondly, it investigated the adaptive capacity of Australian emergency response organisations to provide effective disaster response, given the potentially heightened risk of simultaneous disasters under a changing climate. Analysis also included how external agencies might play a role in enhancing PIC’s internal adaptive capacity. Four countries were selected for in-depth research: Fiji, Vanuatu, Cook Islands and Samoa – all of which are exposed to tropical cyclones, allowing for consistency in assessing response to rapid onset disasters.

To view the full report, see here

To view each country report see Prevention Web

UNISDR Global Assessment Report on Disaster Risk Reduction 2013

Mon, 20 May 2013 09:05:01 +1200

As we move towards building a new, more inclusive and ambitious post-Hyogo Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction for the period following 2015, UNISDR have released the latest global assessment report on disaster risk reduction.

The third edition of the United Nations Global Assessment Report on Disaster Risk Reduction warns

that the worst is yet to come.

This worrying news follows three consecutive years

in which direct economic losses from disasters have

soared past $100 billion. If uninsured losses were included, the figure would be even more staggering.

Based on a new state-of-the art global risk model,

the report’s findings should raise concern among

policymakers and businesses. In a world of on-going population growth, rapid urbanization, climate

change and an approach to investment that discounts disaster risk, the potential for future losses

is enormous. The global community continues to

mix a destructive ‘cocktail of disaster risk’ despite

catastrophic losses in recent years from the Japan

earthquake and tsunami, floods in Pakistan and

Thailand and the destructive Super Storm Sandy.

At the same time, the report documents encouraging signs of progress. Public-private partnerships

in risk management have proven their worth during several disasters, including the 2010 and 2011

earthquakes in Christchurch, New Zealand.

Disaster risk management reduces uncertainty,

builds confidence, cuts costs and creates value.

More private sector senior executives are coming

to recognize this. But growing recognition must

be translated into a more systematic approach to

disaster risk management that will make tomorrow’s

world a safer place.

The third edition of the United Nations Global Assessment Report on Disaster Risk Reduction warns that the worst is yet to come. This worrying news follows three consecutive years in which direct economic losses from disasters have soared past $100 billion. If uninsured losses were included, the figure would be even more staggering.

Based on a new state-of-the art global risk model, the report’s findings should raise concern among policymakers and businesses. In a world of on-going population growth, rapid urbanization, climate change and an approach to investment that discounts disaster risk, the potential for future losses is enormous.

GAR13 explores how businesses, by investing in disaster risk management, can reduce costs and interruptions represented by disaster losses and impacts; how performance and reputation can also be enhanced by minimising uncertainty and unpredictability; why effectively managing disaster risks should be the hallmark of a competitive, sustainable and resilient business; and why a broader approach to business value creation that also addresses underlying drivers of risk is required.

GAR13 highlights the interdependence of the public and private sectors and why business competitiveness, sustainability and resilience will also depend on governments’ ability to manage disaster risk through effective policies. Governments depend on business investment to generate employment and the wealth required to provide public services. Likewise, businesses depend on reliable public infrastructure and utilities, on efficient urban systems, on an educated and healthy workforce and on a range of ecosystem services. Reducing disaster risks in business and in public investment presents a win-win situation for both.

To view the full report, see here

Weakened cyclone hits Bangladesh, but damage is less than feared

Fri, 17 May 2013 14:40:04 +1200

Cyclone Mahasan weakened into a tropical storm as it made landfall Thursday, but it still brought tidal surges, heavy rain and strong winds, causing considerable damage in the fishing villages of Bangladesh and, to a lesser extent, Myanmar.

Officials in Myanmar said no deaths had been reported. But in Bangladesh, 14 people died from falling trees and collapsing walls, the Ministry of Food and Disaster Management said.

The storm caused less damage to the two Bay of Bengal nations than had been feared, although the death toll is expected to rise as communication is restored. Myanmar's disaster planning also has gotten better in recent years, and Bangladesh has dramatically improved its system since the deadly Cyclone Bhola killed up to a half million people in 1970.

Myanmar's military and security forces started evacuation on Monday as part of the government's plan to move close to 160,000 people out of harm's way. But authorities had trouble getting the people—mostly Muslim Rohingyas—to move to safer places. Tens of thousands of Rohingyas have been living in camps in Myanmar's Rakhine state, after having been displaced during intercommunal violence in 2012.
Photos

Cyclone Mahasen weakened Thursday afternoon into a tropical storm and then dissipated.

Police urged people to move to safer areas in Chittagong, Bangladesh, Thursday.

About 78,000 internally displaced people had been moved in Myanmar, the United Nation's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, or OCHA, said late Thursday, citing government estimates.

"We've certainly had a problem with getting people to move … The internally displaced people in Myanmar have been very fearful to travel with military. They perhaps don't know what is happening and fear violence where they are moved," OCHA spokeswoman Kirsten Mildren said from Bangkok.

In Bangladesh, authorities managed to move hundreds of thousands of people out of harm's way, Ms. Mildren said. The government has trained nearly 50,000 community volunteers in disaster management, and the country has more than 3,000 cyclone shelters, many of which double as schools. Its early warning system was also bolstered following Cyclone Sidr in 2007 and Aila in 2009, which killed a total of 4,300 people.

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department said Cyclone Mahasen had weakened and had hit the Sitakunda and Feni regions of Bangladesh, adjoining India's Tripura state. The cyclone is likely to move northeast and gradually lose strength. Squally weather may continue over North Bay and coastal regions of Bangladesh, it said.

In Khepupara town, in the southwestern Patuakhali district of Bangladesh, families sheltering from the storm said they were worried about their homes, rice fields and shrimp farms.

"If the seawater reaches our shrimp farms, the shrimp will escape and the whole year's work will be ruined," said Nazrul Islam, a 30-year-old farmer. "But at least my family is safe," he said.

In Bangladesh's tourist zone of Cox's Bazar, local officials and humanitarian agencies were concerned about the estimated 250,000 Rohingyas from Myanmar who live in squalid, makeshift huts along the shoreline.

"They don't want to move inland for fear of being arrested," said Abdul Hannan, a local council official. "But right now they're exposed to the elements."

Lt. Col. Zahid Hasan, commanding officer of Border Guards' 42 Battalion in Teknaf, on Bangladesh's southeastern tip, said 21 bodies were recovered Thursday afternoon from the sea, apparently from an accident earlier in the week when several boats carrying more than 100 Rohingyas trying to flee the cyclone had capsized.

"We are assuming these are the people from the boat from Pauktaw, Rakhine that capsized on Monday night because none of the locals here have reported anyone missing," he said.

As storm moves in, NGOs urge Myanmar to move Muslim IDPs out

Thu, 16 May 2013 12:50:58 +1200

BANGKOK - Rights groups have urged the Myanmar government to immediately evacuate displaced Muslims to higher ground as a cyclone approaches western Rakhine state. The alert comes as a boat carrying 100 stateless Muslim Rohingya capsized late Monday.

Cyclone Mahasen, a tropical storm brewing in the Indian Ocean, is anticipated to make landfall near Chittagong, Bangladesh, late Thursday or early Friday, but high winds and rain are expected to also affect Rakhine state, said the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

“There are additional concerns over the potential impact of the heavy rains on Chin state in Myanmar which could lead to landslides and flooding. The weather in Myanmar has already deteriorated making boat travel difficult for the assessments and evacuations during the preparedness phase,” said OCHA’s latest report.

The Muslims in Rakhine state have been displaced since last year, when at least 192 people were killed in sectarian violence between Buddhists and Muslims. About 140,000 people, the vast majority of them Rohingya whom Myanmar does not recognise as citizens, were forced out of their homes and are now living in temporary shelters that will not withstand the impact of the storm.

Humanitarian agencies and rights groups have repeatedly warned the government of the impacts of monsoon rains and storms, but the concerns were not heeded, said Brad Adams, Asia Director of Human Rights Watch in a statement.

“If the government fails to evacuate those at risk, any disaster that results will not be natural, but man-made,” he added.

Late on Monday, a boat carrying about 100 Rohingya struck rocks off Pauktaw township in Rakhine state and sank, with many fear drowned.

ASSISTANCE WITHOUT DISCRIMINATION

Evacuations began Monday in some areas such as Pauktaw, a port town about 27 km (17 miles) by sea from the Rakhine capital Sittwe. Although people are being moved to higher ground and away from areas likely to flood, it is unclear what type of shelter the government will provide, the U.N. said.

Rights groups remain concerned.

In a statement, Amnesty International criticised the government for not providing storm warnings to all at-risk displaced communities outside Sittwe and pressed for the Rohingya to be allowed freedom of movement.

Unlike the displaced Rakhines, who are mostly Buddhist, the Muslims are restricted from moving freely, unable to find jobs or access basic services such as healthcare, and forced to rely on aid.

“The government must facilitate assistance without discrimination, including by lifting any restrictions on movement and ensuring humanitarian groups have access to all individuals in need,” said Isabelle Arradon, Amnesty International’s deputy Asia Pacific director.

“The freedom for Rohingya to seek higher ground may be their only chance to avoid potential flooding from heavy rains.”

The U.N. has also said the temporary relocation and evacuation of the displaced to safer locations “must not result in forced returns nor further exacerbate vulnerabilities”.

Disasters displaced over 32 million people in 2012, rising trend forecast

Tue, 14 May 2013 09:56:57 +1200

LONDON - Natural disasters forced 32.4 million people from their homes in 2012, with climate and weather hazards such as floods and storms causing 98 percent of the displacement, a report said on Monday.

The total was almost double the 2011 number, as major floods hit India and Nigeria last year, accounting for 41 percent of global disaster displacement, according to the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC). The figures capture only the impact of rapid-onset crises and exclude droughts, which are slower-moving and harder to track.

In the two biggest events of 2012, monsoon floods uprooted 6.9 million people in India's northeast, and in Nigeria 6.1 million people were newly displaced by widespread flooding in the rainy season.

Over the past five years, some 144 million people have had to leave their homes in 125 nations because of natural disasters, the vast majority staying in their own countries, the report said. The figures vary sharply from year to year according to the number and scale of the largest disasters.

But in general, the risk of displacement is expected to rise in line with global trends that make people more vulnerable, the IDMC warned. Exacerbating factors include population growth, rapid urbanisation and the growing exposure of vulnerable communities and their homes and livelihoods to hazards, it said.

"Due to improved life-saving measures, mortality rates associated with major weather-related hazards are falling, yet increasing numbers of disaster survivors will still be displaced from their homes," the report said. From 2008 to 2012, climate and weather hazards accounted for 83 percent of disaster-driven displacement.

Human-made climate change is expected to increase the frequency and severity of weather-related hazards in the longer term, the report noted.

"The level of displacement risk will be greatly influenced by how well countries and communities are able to strengthen disaster prevention, preparedness and response and adapt to new realities," it added.

POOR WORST-AFFECTED

Over the past five years, four fifths of disaster-driven displacement has occurred in Asia. But in 2012, Africa had a record high for the region of 8.2 million people displaced, over four times more than in any of the previous four years.

The report highlighted how rich countries are also affected by disasters, with 1.3 million people forced from their homes in 2012. The United States was among the top 10 countries with the highest levels of new displacement, at more than 900,000 people, largely due to Hurricane Sandy in October last year and forest fires.

Nonetheless, people in poor countries remain by far the worst-affected, the report said, making up 98 percent of the global total displaced by disasters between 2008 and 2012.

"In the U.S. following Hurricane Sandy, most of those displaced were able to find refuge in adequate temporary shelter while displaced from their own homes,” Clare Spurrell, IDMC's chief spokesperson, said in a statement. “Compare this to communities in Haiti, where hundreds of thousands are still living in makeshift tents over three years after the 2010 earthquake mega-disaster, and you see a very different picture".

Haiti had displacement levels equivalent to 19 percent of its total population, or 1.9 million people, from 2008 to 2012 - the highest relative level experienced by any country - due to the earthquake and a succession of storms.

Other countries that were badly hit in 2012 were China, the Philippines and Pakistan, with displacement caused by storms and their after-effects.

The year was noteworthy for the relatively low number of people uprooted by earthquakes and volanic eruptions - about 680,000.

Around a quarter of countries where people were displaced by disasters in 2012 were also affected by conflict, the report noted. "Here, vulnerability to disaster triggered by floods is frequently further compounded by hunger, poverty and violence; resulting in a ‘perfect storm’ of risk factors that lead to displacement,″ Spurrell said.

Recently, IDMC said that the total number of people internally displaced by armed conflict, generalised violence and human rights violations worldwide as of the end of 2012 was estimated to be 28.8 million.

CALL FOR BETTER DATA

The IDMC figures count people who are newly displaced each year. But the number of those stuck in long-term displacement - who cannot go back after their homes and livelihoods are destroyed - is unknown, the report said.

"Displaced populations are at increased risk of being neglected, unprotected and left without durable solutions to their displacement the longer they are displaced," it said.

IDMC described the lack of information on the cumulative number of people displaced by disasters as "an important blind spot", and urged governments to systematically collect reliable data on the situation of displaced people.

“Currently the information available is biased, often only focusing on the most visible people who take shelter in official evacuation sites or camps," Spurrell said. "We need to know more about those who seek refuge with families and friends, people who are repeatedly displaced by smaller disasters, or those who are stuck in prolonged displacement following a disaster – not just those that make headlines.”

To view the full report, see here

Bangladesh’s severe weather hotline faces test as tropical storm approaches

Tue, 14 May 2013 09:22:30 +1200

DHAKA, Bangladesh - A new telephone hotline in Bangladesh that gives advance warning of bad weather could be put to the test in coming days as a tropical storm threatens to reach hurricane strength over the country. The hotline, launched in March, enables Bangladeshis to get recorded weather bulletins and flood forecasts 24 hours a day from the Bangladesh Meteorological Department by dialing a dedicated number – 10941 – on their mobile phones.

Officials will be hoping the phone line will help steer people away from danger as Tropical Storm Mahasen gathers pace as it heads north across the Bay of Bengal towards Myanmar, Bangladesh and India’s West Bengal region. It is expected to hit in the next 72 hours.

“The newly introduced service will help people stay updated about weather and flood forecasts and make preparations if disaster approaches,” Abdul Wazed, director general of the Department of Disaster Management, told Thomson Reuters Foundation in a telephone interview before the news broke of the impending storm.

Wazed said his agency hoped the phone warnings would give people time to prepare for extreme weather and reduce their exposure to risk, particularly as “the number of disastrous events continues to increase.”

The service, which is aimed primarily at the country’s vulnerable coastal population, is being implemented under the country’s Comprehensive Disaster Management Programme (CDMP), a project funded by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

The disaster management programme aims to reduce Bangladesh's vulnerability to hazards and extreme events, including those linked to climate change, and to make sure 13 key ministries and agencies adopt risk reduction strategies.

Calls to the new hotline cost 2 Taka (just over one cent) per minute but Wazed said his department is trying to reduce the cost to ensure the service is used by Bangladesh’s poorest people.

“We are trying to reduce the cost to 1 Taka per minute or to make the calls free of charge so that more people can hear the alerts and avoid danger,” he said.

His agency also plans to air television and radio advertisements about the service to increase uptake and has already put up 110,000 posters around the country.

WARNINGS FOR FISHERMEN

Last year, Bangladesh launched a pilot project to warn ocean-going fishermen about extreme weather using an electronic device in their boats. Fifty boats were given the device, which could also be used to track them.

In the second phase of the project, which will start soon, an additional 300 boats will be given the device, using funding from the UK-based Humanitarian Innovation Fund.

Bangladesh and supporting NGOs eventually hope to make such devices mandatory for all ocean-going boats.

Tapash Ranjan Chakroborty, an Oxfam campaign officer in Dhaka, said there are some 12,000 fishing boats with sea-going capacity in Bangladesh. If they are within 90 kilometres of the shore, the device allows them to hear warnings and start for home, hopefully avoiding extreme weather.

A study carried out by the Bangladesh-based Campaign for Sustainable Rural Livelihoods (CSRL) found that the intensity and frequency of storms in Bangladesh has tripled in the last 30 years.

During the 2007-2010 period, Bangladesh had 10 to 14 storms severe enough for a signal number 3 warning each year. Three decades ago, just four or five such warnings were issued each year.

Rafiqul Islam, a fisherman in Satkhira district, said most fishermen today depend on the radio to get weather bulletins. The state run radio service reaches up to 50 kilometres offshore.

“We also carry cell phones and friends and relatives inform us about the weather. With the new service, we will be able to hear weather bulletins instantly and start returning if disaster approaches,” he said.

With cell phones now almost ubiquitous in Bangladesh, phone-based early warning systems will be a big help, said Atiq Rahman, executive director of the Bangladesh Centre for Advanced Studies.

But he said he hoped the service would be expanded to provide much more localised and specific warnings.

“I think the time has come to provide area-specific weather alerts instead of general ones. The BMD (the meteorological department) couldn’t give any warning about the formation of a tornado that lashed Brahmanbaria district recently, killing many and destroying several villages,” he noted.

To view in full, see Alertnet

UN disaster assessment team arrives in drought-affected Marshall Islands

Mon, 13 May 2013 16:49:10 +1200

A United Nations disaster assessment team has arrived in the Marshall Islands to help the Government respond to a severe drought affecting its northern islands, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said.

Assessments are ongoing in the country, where a state of disaster was declared on 7 May, according to a report issued by the OCHA Regional Office for the Pacific.

Speaking to reporters in Geneva, OCHA spokesperson Jens Laerke said assessments from four atolls, with an estimated population of 1,500 people, found that most of the domestic water tanks were completely empty and water from wells was unsafe to drink due to bacterial contamination and high levels of salt.

Most of the installations for water purification and desalination were operating below capacity, he added.

In addition, food crops, which were mainly breadfruit and banana, were also reportedly “devastated” due to the drought.

“The lack of clean drinking water is of acute humanitarian concern, and children are particularly vulnerable,” said Mr. Laerke.

Two Government ships to the north-east and north-west of the Marshall Islands had begun transporting full water containers, hygiene kits and other relief items to nearly 600 families in the worst-affected communities.

“There is a high likelihood that drought conditions will remain through July,” Mr. Laerke stated. “It will take several months of normal rainfall for groundwater to be replenished and longer still for food crops to recover.”

The Government will receive an initial OCHA emergency cash grant of $50,000 to assist with the immediate response efforts.

To view in full, see UN News

Tropical storm Mahasen is forecast to strike Bangladesh as a severe cyclonic storm at about 13:00 GMT on 16 May.

Mon, 13 May 2013 11:54:33 +1200

Tropical storm Mahasen is forecast to strike Bangladesh as a severe cyclonic storm at about 13:00 GMT on 16 May. Data supplied by the US Navy and Air Force Joint Typhoon Warning Centersuggest that the point of landfall will be near20.9 N,91.8 E. Mahasen is expected to bring 1-minute maximum sustained winds to the region of around 138 km/h (86 mph).Wind gusts in the area may be considerably higher.

According to the Saffir-Simpson damage scale the potential property damage and flooding from a storm ofMahasen'sstrength (category 1)at landfall includes:

Storm surge generally 1.2-1.5 metres (4-5 feet) above normal.
No real damage to building structures.
Damage primarily to unanchored mobile homes, shrubbery, and trees.
Some damage to poorly constructed signs.
Some coastal road flooding and minor pier damage.

There is also the potential for flooding further inland due to heavy rain.

The information above is provided for guidance only and should not be used to make life or death decisions or decisions relating to property. Anyone in the region who is concerned for their personal safety or property should contact their official national weather agency or warning centre for advice.

To view in full see Alertnet

For updates and situation reports see ReliefWeb

Turkey: Opportunities and risks ahead

Mon, 13 May 2013 11:28:20 +1200

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s visit to Washington on May 16 comes at a pivotal time when the Middle East is riddled with extraordinary conflicts that have the potential of exploding into a regional war. The time is also ripe for creating a geopolitical realignment that could eventually usher in stability and progress.

Turkey can and in fact should play a constructive role, provided that the Erdogan government takes a hard look at what the opportunities are to contribute to building a structure of peace and stability. The Erdogan government, however, should also consider the risks entailed should it remain stuck in grandiose old thinking.

The Turkish government managed over the past few years to create the perception that Turkey’s rise has been based on a sound foreign policy doctrine of “zero problems with neighbors” along with solid economic development policies, while continuing social and political reforms consistent with Islamic values.

A close look at the reality, however, suggests a somewhat different picture that raises serious concerns among Turkey’s friends and quiet jubilation among its enemies.

According to the Human Rights Watch 2011 World Report, the government increasingly breaches what it has committed itself to, including unjustified prosecutions for alleged speech crimes, the arbitrary use of terrorism laws, prolonged pretrial detention (especially of journalists and editors), and the systematic intimidation of any individual or party that objects to, or opposes, government policy.

The government also reversed course with the Kurds, committing a clampdown on the legal pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party (BDP), arresting Kurdish notables and intellectuals for links with the PKK, and until recently returned to the old policy of massive retaliations against PKK attacks.

On Turkish foreign policy, if one takes a look at the situation country by country, the picture looks surprisingly different than “zero problems with neighbors.” There is hardly any neighboring country with which Turkey does not have some kind of problem.

Now is the time for Ankara to take some corrective domestic and foreign policy measures consistent with what the country has and continues to aspire for but fails to realize.

As the Turkish Parliament is writing a new constitution, there is no better time to seek political equilibrium and enshrine human rights in all aspects, especially the rights of the Kurds. Now that the PKK has agreed to abandon violent resistance in favor of a negotiated settlement, the government can institutionalize such reforms without losing face.

The Kurds and other minorities should enjoy equal rights to speak their language and live their culture with no reservations or discrimination, which is the essence of democratic governance.

Turkey’s failure to reconcile the hundred-year old dispute over the Armenian genocide continues to poison its relations not only with Armenia but also with the United States, which takes a strong supportive position on the Armenian grievances.

It is time to end the conflict with Armenia as the one hundredth anniversary is near (2014) and is bound to reignite a major controversy in and outside Turkey. Instead of taking such a categorical stance refuting the entire the issue of the Armenian genocide, Turkish leaders should take heed of what the Old Testament and the Quran preach: “The children should not be held responsible for the sins of their fathers.”

Turkey, in this regard, should express deep regrets about the Armenian genocide during World War I for the tragic events that occurred a century ago. This may not go far enough with the Armenians, but it offers a good beginning that may lead to reconciliation.

The discord with Greece over Cyprus has only worsened with the dispute over gas exploration near Turkish territorial waters. Turkey must find a solution to the Cyprus conflict; not doing so will further strain its relations with Greece. Realpolitik must trump nationalism which can serve national interests; otherwise it will only harden over time and further limit any room for a negotiated settlement.

Although Turkey and Iran enjoy strong trade relations, Ankara still has not made up its mind about Tehran’s ambition to acquire nuclear weapons. Their bilateral relations are strained by Ankara’s decision to host a base for a NATO missile defense system and the conflict over Syria’s future.

Moreover, Turkey must come to terms with the fact that Tehran’s and Ankara’s national interests do not coincide and in fact, the two countries are on a collision course. Syria has become the battleground between Sunnis and Shiites and thus the emerging political order in post-Assad Syria will have a great impact on their overall ambitions.

Turkey is also in conflict with the two countries it once acted between as a mediator--Syria and Israel. Erdogan’s government has finally lost hope in the Assad regime, and joined its allies in imposing sanctions against it, but refrained from taking any decisive measure of its own, fearing Moscow’s wrath. Given the deep animosity and factionalism, the recent agreement between Washington and Moscow to arrange for a conference between the rebels and the Assad government in an effort to end the bloody conflict is not likely to succeed.

But since Turkey will be affected perhaps the most, regardless of the outcome of this conference, it is time for Erdogan to shed its concerns about Russia and persuade the US to plan on supplying the rebels with the weapons desperately needed to tip the balance in their favor and bring a quicker end to the slaughter of civilians.

On the Israeli front, Turkey must put behind its conflict with Israel over the sad Mavi Marmara incident in May 2010 that ended with the killing of nine Turks by Israeli commandos aboard the ship.

Israel should have apologized immediately after the incident for the tragic deaths of the Turks, but Israel’s refusal should not have prompted Turkey to downgrade its diplomatic relations with Israel to the lowest level, which clearly did not serve Turkey’s long-term strategic interests.

Now that Israel has apologized, however, Turkey should move quickly to restore full diplomatic relations with Israel and certainly not make it contingent upon the removal of the blockade of Gaza.

Turkey must spare no effort to demonstrate evenhandedness in dealing with Hamas and Israel. Erdogan’s pending visit to Gaza offers a momentous opportunity to persuade Hamas to permanently forsake violence in favor of a political solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Only then would lifting the blockade become a real possibility, provided it is done to the full satisfaction of Israel’s national security concerns. In addition, Erdogan must also use his considerable influence to wean Hamas off of Tehran, which will over time make it more palatable for Israel to deal with Hamas.

To improve the chances of reconciliation between Hamas and the Palestinian Authority, Erdogan must not skip the West Bank and meet with Mahmoud Abbas during his visit to the area if he really wishes to play a constructive role.

Finally, Turkey should recognize that its ultimate successes and its efforts to mitigate Russia’s coercive regional policies depend on the strength of its alliance with the United States and on its ability to continue to serve as a positive bridge between East and West.

This year marks the 90th anniversary of the founding of the modern Republic of Turkey by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk in 1923. In celebrating the birth of the new republic, there is no better time to take a deeper look at what has taken place since then, especially during the past ten years.

I believe that Turkey is a country that has the potential of becoming a significant global player, but, like any other power, it must also learn its limits.

Turkey’s current rise to prominence was possible because of its promise and implementation of many political, economic and social reforms. These initial successes, however, are not self-perpetuating and must continuously be nurtured.

Only then will Turkey live up to the promise of being the leading Islamic democracy it has set out to be, or it will lose a historic chance to become that kind of a model, especially in the wake of the Arab Spring.

To view in full see Scoop.

Better emergency planning can help business: APEC officials

Mon, 13 May 2013 11:17:47 +1200

Improved emergency planning among businesses in the Asia-Pacific is needed to boost their ability to limit potential disruptions to commercial activity in the world’s most natural disaster-prone region.

Governments can play a critical role in facilitating the effective use of business continuity plans, noted APEC officials and disaster management experts during a two-day workshop on business continuity planning that concluded on Friday in Ha Noi.

"Many businesses are unprepared for the effects of natural disasters which can lead to ongoing disruptions, financial losses and even bankruptcy,” said Dr Nyguen Huu Phuc, Co-Chair of the APEC Emergency Preparedness Working Group.

“Regional supply chains are now so intertwined that a single incident such as a flood or an earthquake can affect production and trade across the entire Asia-Pacific," he added.

Over 70 percent of all natural disasters occur within APEC economies.

Among companies in the region which employ more than 300 people, nearly 70 percent have instituted or are preparing a business continuity plan to deal with a catastrophe, according to an APEC survey in 2012. But only 13 percent of smaller firms indicated that they have one in place. About half were unaware of the business continuity plan concept.

"Small businesses are the backbone of economies and communities in the APEC region," said Dr Li Wei-sen, who is also Co-Chair of the APEC Emergency Preparedness Working Group.

“When they are impacted by a disaster, the implications for people’s livelihoods are potentially severe.”

“Public efforts to raise awareness of business continuity planning benefits and development processes are critical to building the sector’s capacity to continue operations during an emergency. This can increase confidence in the region’s economies and even attract greater foreign investment,” Dr Li explained.

APEC members are examining ways to support this work. Some tactics include promotional campaigns and seminars, tools such as information websites and portable device applications, and possible training and funding outlets.

They are also developing a handbook to assist government agencies with the implementation of these measures. A draft outline was unveiled during the workshop. The final version will be issued before the end of this year.

The workshop, led by Australia, followed a one-day public symposium in Ha Noi on business continuity planning for local small and medium enterprises.
ends

To view in full see Scoop.

Report - Roadmap Towards a Post 2015 Integrated Regional Strategy for Disaster Risk Management and Climate Change in the Pacific

Mon, 13 May 2013 11:07:05 +1200

This document outlines a process to facilitate the development of an integrated strategy for Disaster Risk Management (DRM) and Climate Change (CC) for the Pacific islands region by 2015.

To view the full report, see here

High level even on human security

Fri, 10 May 2013 10:10:51 +1200

On Wednesday 8 May, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon and other dignitaries took part in an event that explored the future of human security, an approach that integrates peace and security, development, and human rights. Far away from the event, communities in dozens of countries around the world can attest to the value of this approach.

The city of Soacha sits on the south-east fringes of Colombia’s sprawling capital Bogota. It is home to about 450,000 people, who are among the most vulnerable in the country. Few people have access to basic social services. Many live in informal housing, and are exposed to high levels of violence, criminality, unemployment and environmental degradation.

Their needs are severe and varied, and cannot be addressed by any individual humanitarian agency or NGO working in isolation.

In May 2010, seven UN agencies along with a number of local partners began a project to address these issues comprehensively. The project, funded by the United Nations Trust Fund for Human Security (UNTFHS), aimed to help communities play a bigger role in decision-making and to empower them to act on their own behalf.

Epifania lives in Altos de la Florida, one of Soacha’s settlements. She was involved in the project from its inception. “I participated in different ways… from the formulation to the implementation,” she explains. “I helped the agencies to define the best way to work with and for the community.”

The project involved a range of activities, each designed to address specific issues identified by communities. In Altos de la Florida, for example, many people live in illegally constructed houses and lack information about their rights. With support from OCHA, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), community members and leaders established an Association for Property Rights to inform people about their legal status.

Elsewhere, UNHCR has helped community members set up a local group to provide a voice for internally displaced people (IDPs) living in Soacha. A recent report by the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre and the Norwegian Refugee Council found that Colombia had the highest number of IDPs in the world in 2012. The group was involved in revising local public policy on IDPs and providing greater protection for them.

Community-leader Liliana took part in this process. ”When I had to leave my previous town, it was very useful to receive all the information about my rights and opportunities,” she says. “Now I’ve become a kind of expert on IDP issues. That’s why I like to work for my community; to bring them all the information I know.”

Other projects included the establishment of 500 community gardens to address food security concerns (with support from the Food and Agriculture Organization), and a campaign to help people run healthier homes, supported by the Pan American Health Organization.

Over 200 projects in more than 85 countries

Since 1999, UNFTHS has provided funding for over 200 projects like the one in Soacha, in more than 85 countries.

“The Soacha project is a wonderful example of the strength of the human security approach,” explained Ms. Mehrnaz Mostafavi, Chief of the Human Security Unit who visited the project in July 2012.

“Interventions were designed to address specific needs that were defined by communities themselves. They were focused on empowering communities to address the full range of issues that they faced. And it was built on close collaboration and coordination between UN agencies, participating communities and Government counterparts.”

To view in full see UNOCHA

2013 Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction: Virtual Global Platform

Wed, 08 May 2013 13:06:07 +1200

The Fourth Session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction is just two weeks away. Are you ready to join the conversation? From the 15th till the 17th of May you can join the conversation on developing a framework for post-2015 disaster risk reduction online.

To register or for more information see GPDRR