ADRC Highlights
Asian Disaster Reduction Center Monthly News

Vol. 346
January
2022
TOPICSNew Year Greetingsfrom ADRC
HAMADA Masanori,Chairman, Asian DisasterReduction Center
Promoting Cooperation
with Member Countries
Asian Conference on
Disaster Reduction(ACDR) 2021
Recent Natural
Disasters in Asia
Volcanic Eruption andTsunami in Tonga

Asian DisasterReduction Center
Higashikan 5F, 1-5-2
Wakinohamakaigan-dori,Chuo-ku, Kobe
651-0073 JapanNew Year Greetings from ADRCADRC is pleased to send New Year
greetings to all our member country
governments, stakeholders, and supporters.
We are deeply grateful to you for all yourdisaster risk reduction activities over the
past year, and your robust support for therecent Asian Conference on Disaster
Reduction (ACDR) 2021. We wish you alla very healthy and joyous 2022!
Since the novel coronavirus was firstdetected in December 2019, successive
waves of infection have affected people allover the globe. By the end of 2021, thisvirus had infected as many as 295 million
people, and had resulted in 5.4 million
deaths. While vaccines have made it
possible to control the spread of the virus tosome degree, there is still no end in sight to the pandemic. Vaccine access varies byregion, and many people are still suffering as a result of the spread of the virus.
Given this, ACDR 2021 was once again held in an online format. At this recent
conference, which was held for three days starting 14 December 2021, participants
gave reports and held robust discussions on topics including information sharing
and disaster risk reduction, human resource development in the field of disastermanagement, and efforts to strengthen cooperative structures between member
countries and their stakeholders. The conference provided information that is sureto prove highly valuable in the creation and implementation of disaster risk
reduction policies in the member countries.
In addition to disasters like earthquakes and tsunamis, other climate related
disasters, like heavy rains, major storms, and droughts, are also occurring withincreasing frequency. These trends are especially pronounced in the Asian region.
Because these disasters cause compounded damage when combined with thepandemic, people all around the world may be entering a time that will be morechallenging than ever before.
At ADRC, we are firmly committed to doing everything we can, in close
cooperation with our 31 member countries, to overcome the crisis of thecoronavirus pandemic, to reduce the damage caused by major disasters likeearthquakes and tsunamis, and to help people all over the world live their lives insafety and peace. We look forward to your ongoing support for and partnership in
this critical work.

Tel: 078-262-5540
Fax: 078-262-5546
editor@adrc.asia
https://www.adrc.asia

HAMADA Masanori
Chairman
Asian Disaster Reduction Center© ADRC 2022

1ADRC Highlights

Vol. 346● Promoting Cooperation with Member Countries
Asian Conference on Disaster Reduction (ACDR) 2021

The Asian Conference on Disaster Reduction (ACDR) 2021 was held on 14-16 December 2021, once again
in an online format. Recognizing the "new normal" that has been brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic,
we acknowledged that disaster risk reduction systems must be adapted to the situation to build a more
resilient society, and settled on a fitting theme for this year: "Time for Change and Transformation: The
Road to a Resilient Asia." ACDR2021 provided a forum for the discussion of policies, programs, projects,activities, and approaches that can facilitate change and transformation towards a more resilient Asia.
ACDR2021 included keynote speeches, a high-level round table, thematic sessions, and side events.
At the opening, Mr NINOYU Satoshi, Minister of State for Disaster Management of Japan stressed that
DRR actions, such as investing in mitigation and awareness raising efforts, are essential to achievetransformations that lead to greater resilience. Next, Mr Rustam Nazarzoda, Chairman of the Committee ofEmergency Situations and Civil Defense of Tajikistan, emphasized the role of knowledge sharing and otherforms of regional cooperation in addressing recent DRR issues. Finally, Prof HAMADA Masanori,
Chairman of the Asian Disaster Reduction Center (ADRC), explained how the ACDR itself is a forum forfacilitating DRR actions that can lead to improved resiliency.

14 December: Opening Remarks

The keynote speeches reflected the differing perspectives of the speakers' organizations, a UN agency, thenational government, and the private sector, respectively.
First, Ms Mami Mizutori, Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General (SRSG) for
Disaster Risk Reduction, Head of the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR),encouraged participants to accelerate the beneficial and fruitful promotion of disaster resilience in the AsiaPacific region in line with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction. Second, Dr Basuki
Hadimuljono, Minister for Public Works and Housing (PU) of Indonesia, pointed out that in hazard-prone
countries like Indonesia, national governments will always be confronted with challenges in DRR. He also
noted that there are existing strategies that can help address those challenges, such as DRR investments, abuild back better approach to recovery, pre-disaster investments, early warning systems, and cooperation inpromoting resilient infrastructure.
Finally, Ms Sandra Wu Wen-Hsiu, Chairperson and CEO of Kokusai Kogyo Co., Ltd., made the case forthe private sector's role in DRR, emphasizing the sector's rich experience, skills, and resources.

14 December: Keynote Speech)

Taking advantage of the online format of the conference, ADRC invited ministers and otherdistinguished officials from its member countries to make statements at the high-level round table on DRR
policies, institutional arrangements, programs, and activities.
2ADRC Highlights

Vol. 346

Continued

The high-level officials who delivered those statements included: Mr Rustam Nazarzoda, Chairman,Committee of Emergency Situations and Civil Defense (Tajikistan), Assistant Commissioner Yazid
Abdullah, Director, Volunteer and Community Partnership Department, Singapore Civil Defense Force(Singapore), Mr Md Mohsin, Secretary, Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief (Bangladesh), Prof Dr
Syamsul Maarif, Chairman (Former Head of BNPB), Indonesia Center for Research and Training onDisaster Management (Indonesia), MG G Ariunbuyan, Chief, National Emergency Management Agency(Mongolia), Mr Muhamad Idrees, Member (DRR), National Disaster Management Authority (Pakistan),Secretary Delfin N. Lorenzana, Chairperson of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and ManagementCouncil (Philippines), Major General Sudantha Ranasinghe, Director General, Disaster Management Centre(Sri Lanka), Mr Boontham Lertsukekasem, Director-General, Department of Disaster Prevention andMitigation, Ministry of Interior (Thailand), and Mr Pham Duc Luan, Deputy Director General, Viet Nam
Disaster Management Authority (Viet Nam).
Experiences from these countries indicate a need for greater emphasis on the following activities: (1)investing in DRR and climate change adaptation, (2) applying multi-hazard early warning systems, (3)promoting all-of-society, inclusive, and proactive DRR approaches to ensure that no one is left behind, (4)enhancing capacity building in DRR, and (5) promoting disaster-resilient infrastructure.

14 December: High-Level Round Table

The next issue of ADRC Highlights will feature articles on Sessions 1-3 held on 15 and 16 December
2021.
● Recent Natural Disasters in Asia
Volcanic Eruption and Tsunami in Tonga

On 15 January 2022, the underwater volcano Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai, located 64 km north of the mainisland of Tonga erupted (GLIDE No. VO-2022-000005-TON), producing volcanic ash and a tsunami thatcaused serious damage in the country. Other Asia-Pacific countries were also impacted by the tsunami thatwas triggered by the eruption. Tonga is experiencing a lack of drinking water due to contamination byvolcanic ash.
ADRC, as the secretariat of Sentinel Asia, requested an emergency satellite observation after the disasterto obtain the latest information on the situation and to learn more about the damage caused by the disaster.
For details, please visit: https://www.adrc.asia/publications/disaster_report/index.php or https://www.adrc.asia/publications/disaster_report/pdf/2022/Eruption_of_the_Hunga_Tonga-Hunga_Haapai_01.pdf

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