4. Promotion of Disaster Reduction Cooperation
4-1. Cooperation with the United Nations
4-1-1. Opening of the UN OCHA Relief Web
1) Provided Information
The ReliefWeb of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs(OCHA) has been promoted with fund aid from member countries since 1996. Its mission definedby the UN General Conference resolution is “to contribute humanitarian aid applied by aninternational society by means of providing prompt and reliable information”. The ReliefWeb iscurrently providing information related to humanitarian aid and disaster via the Internet.
2) Opening of the Relief Web Kobe
The ReliefWeb provides information on international humanitarian aid applied by the UN OCHA
for regions damaged by natural disasters and local conflicts including local condition, need, actual
situation of aid activities, dispersal of financial aid, etc, which are collected from more than 600
relevant organizations.
3)

Opening of Relief Web Kobe
With the funds donated by “the UN Fund for Human Security” established by the Japanese
government and support from the Japanese government, the ADRC and Hyogo prefecture, OCHA
established the Kobe office within the ADRC and dispatched personnel in charge of information.
The opening ceremony for the Kobe office was held on August 16, 2001. Together with the offices in
New York and Geneva, the Kobe office became the third base for ReliefWeb, which made it possible
to provide the latest information covering a 24-hour period.
Together with the OCHA Asian Unit established within the ADRC in February 2000, the ADRC
now have a wide range of human networks with the Asian region as a core. By utilizing these human
networks, it can be expected that the ADRC will make great contributions to a more active andefficient sharing of information on disaster reduction and emergency aid in the Asian regions.

Opening ceremony for the UN OCHA ReliefWeb１4-1-2. Cooperative Projects between UN OCHA and ADRCADRC and the Asian Disaster Response Unit of OCHA Kobe (ADRU/OCHA Kobe) havedeveloped the partnership through implementation of the cooperative project since
ADRU/OCHA Kobe was established in February 2000 in Kobe.
Based on the cooperative project, on 4-6 July 2001, ADRC and ADRU/OCHA Kobe
co-organized the Consultative Meeting on Regional Cooperation in the Field of Natural
Disasters in Kathmandu, Nepal. The meeting was attended by the representatives from ADB,
ADPC, ICIMOD, USAID/OFDA, UNDP Nepal, WFP, WHO, OCHA Geneva.
The aims of the meeting were to:(1)Enhance and strengthen regional cooperation in the field of natural disasters, including
preparedness, reduction, capacity building, response and recovery(2)Provide a forum for regional organizations and regional offices of international organizations
to share views and experiences related to natural disasters(3)Achieve a shared vision of regional cooperation
At the Meeting, following the presentations by the participants on their organizations andactivities, they shared views on the main issues and outlined the common concerns in regional
cooperation in the field of natural disasters. The meeting concluded with concrete future actions
to be taken by group. The actions include the following: 1) advocating a holistic approach todisaster management-Total Disaster Risk Management, 2) developing an inventory or databaseof who is doing what, where in disaster management, by agency, disaster type, sector, hazard
should be created and 3) preparing for a calendar of key disaster management events throughthe web. For these projects, ADRC will play a leading role in cooperation with otherorganizations. Due to the insightfulness of this forum, all the participants agreed to have thesecond consultative meeting. The next meeting was proposed to be co-hosted by ADPC and
ADRC in Bangkok during the second quarter of 2002.

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Table 4‑1‑2‑1 Participants
Position
Name
Manny de Guzman
Vice President & Chief(Resource person)
Executive Officer
Nick Russell
Chief Technical Advisor(Resource person)
Thomas O. Brennan
SR. Regional Advisor

Organization
Alliance for Emergency
Response and Training
UNDP Bangladesh
Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance/USAIDInternational Center for Integrated
Mountain Development (ICIMOD)
International Center for Integrated
Mountain Development (ICIMOD)
Asian Development Bank
(Katmandu)
ADPC

Binayak Bhadra

Director of Programmes

Li Tianchi

Hazard Mitigation Specialist

Kathie M. Julian

Program Officer/ Economist

Aloysius J. Rego

Man B. Thapa
Erik Kajaegarrd
Yoshihiro Takashima

Director
Planning, Development & Partner
Relations Division
National Program Manager
Technical Officer
Regional CoordinatorJohn Aylieff

Regional Program Advisor

UNDP
WHO
Emergency and Humanitarian Action,
Regional Office for the Western Pacific,
WHO
WFP

Rudolf Muller
Feng Min Kan

Humanitarian Affairs Officer
Regional Disaster Response Advisor

OCHA Geneva
OCHA Asian Unit

Yujiro Ogawa
Akiko Nakamura

Executive Director
Researcher

ADRC
ADRC

4-2. Cooperative Projects with Member Countries
By utilizing the network among member countries, the ADRC has been identifying needs ofAsian countries and providing support mainly in the form of technology and funds to disaster
reduction projects applied by governments of member countries or international organizations
Through these collaborative projects, the ADRC has made efforts to improve capabilities ofmember countries to reduce disasters. Furthermore the dissemination of information regarding
its achievement and knowledge gained through the projects has been implemented not only bymember countries, but all over the world.
Collaborative project list follows.
Table 4‑2‑1 Lists of Joint Projects
Fiscal Year Country
Contents of Project
Project for Public Awareness of India of1999
Papua New Guinea Tsunami Disaster Reduction AwarenessProject
Disaster Management Traning Project for
2000
Cambodia
Local Goverenment Official
2000
Project for Public Awareness of Dosaster
Nepal
Reduction by Community Leaders
Communitiy-based Flood Disaster Mitigation
2000
Indonesia
Project
Multinational Investigation of India
2001
India
Earthquake
Disaster Management Traning Project for
2001
Sri Lanka
Local Goverenment Official
2001
Singapore
Urban Search-and-Rescue Training Project
School Educational Program for Disaster
2001
Philippines
Reduction

4-2-1. Multinational Investigation of India Earthquake1) Background
On January 26, 2001, at 8:46 am, a large scale earthquake measuring 6.9 on the Richter scalewith the epicenter 20 km north-east of the city of Bhuji in Gujarat occurred, and more than
20,000 were reported killed. Damage was centered on the epicenter of the Kachchha district,which accounted for 90% of the total deaths and 80% of the injuries. Ahmadabad, the densely
overpopulated center of commerce in the state suffered major damage, it lies 300 km from theepicenter.
In Asian regions, it is difficult to freely cross borders due to political or religious reasons.
Even for the aim of research for disasters, it’s sometimes difficult to obtain a visa. Also there aremany countries that cannot dispatch their inspection teams even if they want to, because of theirgovernment’s financial situation.
On the other hand, for the disaster stricken area, it’s very troublesome to receive
investigation teams dispatched from different countries.
Considering these backgrounds, the ADRC proposed to send multi-national mission to thestricken area in India partially at the ADRC’s expense. The Indian government accepted this
proposal and invited personnel in charge of disaster reduction from member countries of the
ADRC.

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Table 4‑2‑1‑1

Epicenter of Gujarat, India

2) Purposes①By directly inspecting the stricken area, disaster reduction specialists from member
countries could learn lessons from the earthquake which actually hit India, and will beable to utilize and reflect on these lessons to plan for disaster reduction in their own
countries②In return, member countries will propose knowledge of and experiences in their countries
to restore stricken areas or to reduce disasters.
3) Itinerary
June 4, 2001
June 5June 6- 7
June 8

Briefing of Earthquake hit Gujarat at National DisasterReduction Instituteof Indian Ministry of Agriculture
Briefing of countermeasure taken by state government at Bhuji branch ofGujarat State government
Inspect the stricken area in Gujarat State
Wrap-up meetings among participants and the Indian Ministry of Agriculture4)Participant countries
Participants included India, Armenia, Australia, China (two persons), Japan, Malaysia andRussia, for a total of seven countries. They visited the Kachchha district of Gujarat State,
which experienced the highest incidence of damage among the stricken areas. Participants
were as follows.
Table 4‑2‑1‑1 Lists of Participants
CountryName
Mr. Dudley
Australia
McArdleMr. Masanori
Japan
Uno
Mr. Major
Malaysia
SuhaimiChina
Prof. Zhang

Title/Organization
Director, Australian Emergency
Management Institute
Deputy Director for Post-Disaster
Recovery and Restruction, Cabinet Office
Assistant Director, Crisis and Disaster
Management Unit
Institute of Engineering Mechanics,

Minzhen
China
Armenia
Russia
ADRC
ADRC
ADRC
ADRC

China Seismological Bureau

Prof. Gao
MengtanMr. Simon
PapyanMr. Vladimir
BoreykoMr. Yujiro
Ogawa
Mr. Masaru
ArakidaMr. Fumiaki
Yoshimura
Ms. Sonoko
TanakaDeputy Director, Institute of Geophysics
First Vice President,
National Survey for Seismic Protection
Chief of Desk, International Department,
EMERCOM (Ministry of Russia)
Executive Director
Senior Researcher
Senior Researcher
Administrator

Table 4‑2‑1‑2 Lists of participants from Indian government
Name
Title/Organization
Shri. Naved Masood
Joint Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture
Director, Department of Agriculture &Shri. S.･K･ Swami
Cooperation, Ministry of Agriculture
Assistant Director, Department of
Shri. V.･P･ Pasrija
Agriculture & Cooperation, Ministry ofAgriculture
Under Secretary, Department of
Shri. S.･Janakiraman
Agriculture & Cooperation, Ministry ofAgriculture
Shri. Om PrakashTechnical Officer, Department ofAgriculture & Cooperation, Ministry ofAgriculture
Prof. Vinod K Sharma
Professor, NCDM
Dr. Alok Gupta
Research Associate, NCDM
Shri. Amir Ali Khan
Researcher Officer, NCDM

The scene of investigation

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ADRC Annual Report No.4 (2001)

5) Results
The participants concluded the following comments on lessons learnt from the earthquakein India. Furthermore, after this project was implemented, joint investigations and workshops
were conducted between China and India, and between Armenia and India.
(1) Disaster Reduction Plans
To enhance the preparation for disaster and to minimize damages, the following plans
should be inacted.
・ Secure the capability to manage risks accompanied by all kinds of disasters among all thegovernments and various organizations.
・ Improve management plan in the case of an emergency and develop its capability.
・ Plan to train personnel at all levels including community.
・ Prepare for risk reduction management by local governments in times of an earthquake.
・ Set up a task force consisting of various specialists for the swift management of theemergency situations.
・ Prepare plans for the emergency management at regional or city/town levels.
・ Reinforce preparedness in the medical field(2)Educational programs
The following dissemination and awareness activities are indispensable to minimize
disaster damages.
・ Raise public awareness and educate them about vulnerability to the natural disaster,
restoration capability, technology for disaster reduction, etc.
・ Increase public interests in the issues related to earthquake and other risks.
(3) Plans for utilizion of lands and zoning
In order to develop towns resistant to disaster, it is necessary to identify hazards, schemeplans to utilize lands, and zone under the strong initiative of governments.
・ Implement earthquake risk assessment and earthquake micro zoning prior to restoration of
the area.
・ It is indispensable to make specific land use plan for utilizing lands especially in the urban
areas or big cities. Construction of houses or apartments around the dislocation or bad soil
must be avoided.
・ Reassessment of risk in cities, towns or villages(4) Structure and residence・ Introduce strict regulation on land use plan and construction of buildings, which includes
earthquake resistance under strict regulation of construction materials and its methods.
・ Improve earthquake-resistance of existing buildings
・ Enhance laws regarding buildings(5) Infrustructure
・ Governmental system, public utility works, reinforcement of quake-resistance oftransportation system
・ Improve standard of quake-resistant design for existing infrastructure and life line system(6) Surveillance and Early Warning System
・ Introduction of earthquake surveillance system in the areas where earthquake is active
・ Development of Early Warning System
・ Establishment of National Center to reduce risks accompanied by earthquake4-2-2. Disaster Management Traning Project for Local
Goverenment Official
1) Basic concept
Since fostering local government staff in charge of disaster reduction is urgent issue in Sri
Lanka, this training program was conducted for personnel involved in disaster reduction
activities at the regional level of districts and divisions for the second straight year.
2) Costs borne by the ADRC
US$10,000
3) Date of Implementation
July 2001 and November 2001
（Succeeded from the program implemented in March, 2001）
4) Details①Subjects
Leaders of the divisions from respective district, which are especially vulnerable todisaster②Examples of training program
・Concept of disaster management･ Organization, laws, plans, education, training
・Disaster reduction technology, warning, decision-making
・Orientation, formation of organization
・Mobilization immediately after disaster, damage evaluation, maintenance of lifeline,
evacuation sites
・Procurement, storage and distribution of goods
・Transition to recovery and restoration5)Explanation
Sri Lanka is prone to natural disasters such as floods, landslides, cyclones, and droughts,
and nurturing of local staff to handle these disasters is an urgent task. This project was
succeeded from last year and conducted at the capital Sri Jayawaredenapura Kotte withpresence of heads and deputy heads of provincial governments. The training centered on
lectures, and was comprised of about 20 courses such as field trips, tours of internationalorganizations, etc. The lectures incorporated a group discussion as well as the showing ofself-made awareness videos to avoid one-way style lectures. Field trips were made moreinteresting by incorporating town-watching trips together with the villagers of flood-prone
regions. The diverse courses offered and resource persons who made these possible were both
impressive.
The training was held at agovernment-training center equippedwithvariousequipment,
accommodations and canteen, in
consideration of functionality andeconomic
meritsavailable.
Participants highly evaluated thetraining, and further enhancement ofdisaster reduction efforts at theregional government level can be
expected in Sri Lanka.
Training in Sri Lanka

4-2-3. Urban Search-and-Rescue Training Project1) Basic concept
Singapore government conducts training every year for personnel in charge of search and

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ADRC Annual Report No.4 (2001)

rescue activities in developing countries. In an effort to utilize these resources, ADRC called
for member countries to participate in the training, and as a result, search and rescue officers
from Philippines, Myanmar and South Korea participated.

2) Cost borne by ADRC
Approx.US$5,000
3) Date of Implementation
October 8 and 9, 20014)Details①Subjects
Total 23 of search and rescue officers from Africa, South America, Asia, etc (Of those,costs for three persons from Philippines, Myanmar and South Korea respectively wereborne by ADRC.)②Lecturers
Staff from Singapore Civil Defense Force③Example of training programa) Lecture
Evaluate damages
Search and rescue in the closed space
Rescue activities
Type of buildings prone to collapse
Carrying equipments for search and rescue
Action management in the event of large-scale disaster and small one
Rescue dogb) Practical training
Search training in the closed space
Search training in the crop storage tank (simulation facility)
Search training in the collapsed building (simulation facility)
Search training at the underground (simulation facility)
Search training at the ruined military facility5)Explanation
Search and rescue training
facility in Singapore isequipped with simulation
facility such as 10-story firebuilding, chemical plant,
refinery, debris area, closed
space, etc., and also withlecture rooms, reduced scale
facility,canteen,theadministration, etc.
The first week of the training
centered on lecture, and thesecond week on practicaltrainings for search and rescue
at the simulation facilities.
Training in Singapore
During training, a commander
was selected from participantsin the respective lesson so that participants were required to use their judgment.
Since the facility like in Singapore is rare, the needs for efficient training in developing
countries are very high. It seemed at first a little difficult to conduct the training for people
from different countries and different cultural and habitual background. However it was
impressive to see the discipline of Singapore Civil Defense Force officers was so severe thatthey instructed all the participants in the firm manner despite their positions at home countries
It demonstrated clearly that Singapore has appropriate human resources as well as facilitiesfor search and rescue training. The objective of this program is to utilize resources owned bymember countries to meet needs of other member countries. The ADRC is determined topromote this type of project in the future.

4-2-4. School Educational Program for Disaster Reduction
1) Basic Concept
The purpose of this workshop is to increase awareness of disaster reduction and to improveabilities for education of disaster reduction by means of creating model curriculum for disaster
reduction education at school.
This project was co-hosted by Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology(PHIVOLCS) and Asia/Pacific Cultural Center for UNESCO (ACCU)), and the ADRC borepart of the cost for training together with Philippine High Education Committee andUniversity of United Nations as one of cooperative organization. Furthermore, the ADRC
recruited and selected 10 specialists in disaster reduction from Asian Nations. Besides, 10
specialists in the field of education from Manila in Philippine also participated in the program.
Total of about 40 people always got together at this workshop including participants fromother relevant organizations.
6 goals of the workshop are:①Provide opportunity for exchanging information among participants including lecturers②Improve capabilities of participants for disaster reduction management③Raise awareness of importance to consider what school can do to reduce disaster④Create and inspect the model curriculum to increase awareness of disaster reduction in theschool education, and inspect these curriculum⑤Create and inspect the model for evacuation training in times of earthquake at school⑥ Raise awareness of actual conditions, and teach the importance of cooperation forproblem-solving
2)Date of Implementation
December 1 to 17, 2001
3)Details
Subjects
・Experts on disaster reduction from Asiancountries ：10 Participants・Experts in educational field from Philippines ：10 Participants
Examples of Training Programa) Lecture
・ Geological hazard
・ Risk and vulnerability
・ Disaster reduction management policy and preparation
・ Dissemination and awareness through educationｂ) Inspection tour and practice・ Inspection tour to school, evacuation training simulation
・ Town watching・ Creation of curriculum for disaster reduction at school4) Explanation
This workshop program centered on lecture in its initial phase, providing explanation on
natural disasters, example of disaster caused in Manila, reports from participant countries, etc,
where they actively exchange opinions from the beginning.
Fieldwork was mainly conducted in the middle phase, visiting private school, public highschool and elementary school, where we held interview to teachers and students. Based on thisinformation, we discussed both good and bad points. We especially took deep observation
around the public elementary school facilities and surrounding areas, and also conductedevacuation training there for the event of earthquake.
Through school inspection tour and town watching, we picked up problems and dangerous
points concerning disaster reduction, and made presentation by each group using map andpictures. Each group has made careful inspection, and many pointed out that there were little

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ADRC Annual Report No.4 (2001)

vacant lots except school and church expressing their concerns about shortage of shelter intimes of large scale disaster.
The first evacuation training was conducted without giving any preliminary knowledge tothe teachers. Even though they experienced the earthquake evacuation training for the firsttime, it was conducted comparatively smoothly. Then based on the first training, we discussedwith the teachers over what should be improved and introduced actual cases in Japan before
the second evacuation training was implemented. Some classes made evacuation very calmly
by faithfully complying with the Japanese evacuation guidelines. This training was made very
successful as a result of involving teachers in charge of instructing evacuation into discussion
to seek improvement of evacuation manner.
The last phase of the program centered on wrap-up meeting, verifying the activities weproceeded.
The results of this workshop were:① Framework of curriculum for school education for disaster reduction was created.
② Based on what was discussed at workshop, we provided a statement stipulating thecurrent situation of disaster risk, the importance of raising awareness through school
education, consideration to be taken in the future system and policy.
Participants brought the framework of curriculum and the statement back to each country,
and it is expected these curriculum and statement will be modified in accordance with thecondition of each country and be utilized.

Training in Philippine