Emerging Trends and the Role of NGOs /Civil Society Organizations
July 22nd 2020
＠APRU Virtual Summer School Part II

Takeshi Komino
General Secretary, CWS Japan
Co-Chairperson, Japan Platform
SG/Executive Committee, Asian Disaster Reduction and Response NetworkSecretariat, Japan CSO Coalition for Disaster Risk Reduction

Source: Natural Disasters 2018, 2019, CRED

Copyright (c) ADRRN

2CRED 2018 Disaster Statistics

Global Humanitarian
Overview 2019
UNOCHA

Global Humanitarian
Overview 2019
UNOCHA

CRED 2017 Disaster Statistics

https://www.newclimateforpeace.org/

The age of「New Normal」‘The new riskscape is aggravated by the greater
complexity of disasters. In the Report, thesecretariat shows how disasters in the past twoyears were beyond what the region had
previously experienced in terms of probability,intensity and behaviour.’
Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific Committee on Disaster Risk Reduction
Sixth session Bangkok, 28–30 August 2019

Specific challenges in Asia
• Rainfall patterns changing – 20th century
infrastructure and way of living not coping• Emergence of wide spread water scarcity
and more frequent flood• Need for early action – but ‘when andwhere to start?’• Intensified risks in urban areas• Climate risks leading to political and socialrisks• Response vs. Solutions• Nationalization (vs. Localization) towards
shared risks• Competition vs. Co-existence

COVID-19 Severity and Age GroupsLocalized risk management landscapeHyogo Framework for

Sendai Framework forAction (2005-2015)

DRR (2015-)• High progress on• More focus on

governance andunderstanding risks andinstitutional

investment to mitigate

arrangements, andthe impact.

disaster preparedness.
• Focused more on• Focus on local
governance of risks (e.g.

developing countries, butTarget E) with local

low progress on

governance units.

underlying risk factors.

• Focus both on rich and• Realization that things

poor, but in the context

don’t always trickle downof international
cooperation

COVID-19 (2019/2020-)• Different risks fordifferent persons.
• All countries affectedwith similar risks at thesame time.
• Personalized risks and risk

reduction actions athousehold level.

Japan’s journey on disaster management

EdogawaArakawa

Sumidagawa

Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism

High dikes have been constructed in downstream areas, and river level are higher than residential areas.
Such flood prone areas constitute 10% of total land area of Japan, which is also home to 51% of ourpopulation and 75% of assets. Therefore, breaching of dikes could lead to serious disasters.

NHK

Tonami City, Toyama Prefecture

Conclusion: the role of NGOs/CSOs• Individual actions more important than ever – localization ofdisaster management in each country, locality• Equal assistance based on fairness (government) vs. Specificassistance based on individual needs (civil society)• Over-reliance on volunteer – the need for professional agencies(Assistance based on standards (e.g. Sphere, CHS) at times ofuncertainty) – but source them locally as much as possible• DRR awareness: something special vs. nothing new• Collective responsibility, based on Principles of Partnership(Equality, Transparency, Results-Oriented Approach,Responsibility and Complementarity)