Disclaimer
This report was compiled by an ADRC visiting researcher (VR) from ADRC
member countries.
The views expressed in the report do not necessarily reflect the views ofthe ADRC. The boundaries and names shown and the designations usedon the maps in the report also do not imply official endorsement or
acceptance by the ADRC.

http://www.mohca.gov.bt

http://www.ddm.gov.bt

Department of Disaster Management
Ministry of Home & Cultural Affairs
Royal Government of Bhutan

Country Report: DisasterManagement System

Bh t
BhutanVisiting Researchers Program (VR FY2013B)
Asian Disaster Reduction Center (ADRC)
Kobe, Japan
27th January, 2014
Pema Thinley

Visiting Researchers Program, FY2013B

http://www.mohca.gov.bt

http://www.ddm.gov.bt

Department of Disaster Management
Ministry of Home & Cultural Affairs
Royal Government of Bhutan

Ku-Zu
KuZangpo--laZangpo
Visiting Researchers Program, FY2013B

Presentation Outline
1.
2
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Brief Introduction of Bhutan
DDepartment
off DisasterDiManagementMat a glancel
Hazards in Bhutan
Generall Overview
i off DisasteriManagement System ini Bhutan
hIssues and challenges faced in the field of Disaster Management
Way Forward for Department of Disaster Management
Brief Research PlanVisiting Researchers Program, FY2013B

King and the Queen of Bhutan

Visiting Researchers Program, FY2013B

Paro Taktshang, Bhutan

Visiting Researchers Program, FY2013B

Flora of Bhutan

Visiting Researchers Program, FY2013B

Dochula Pass, Bhutan

Visiting Researchers Program, FY2013B

Flowers of Bhutan

Visiting Researchers Program, FY2013B

Festivals in Bhutan

Visiting Researchers Program, FY2013B

Traffic System in Bhutan

Visiting Researchers Program, FY2013B

About Bhutan••••••••••

Area of Bhutan: 38,394 sq km.
Altitude: Varying from 590.55ft to 24,770.34ft above sea level.
Population: 733,004733 004 (projected 2013).
2013)
Capital: Thimphu.
Climate: Varies tropical in southern plains, cool winters and hot summers in central valleys, severe wintersand cool summers in Himalayas
Himalayas.
Local Time: Six hrs ahead of GMT and 30 minutes ahead of Indian Standard Time.
Forest Cover: 72% (approximately).
Currency: Ngultrum.
Major Export: Hydro-electricity
Protected areas: 51.44% of total land.

Symbols of Bhutan:• The Royal Emblem,• National Flag,• Cypress, the national tree,• Raven, the national bird,• Blue Boppy, the national flower,• Takin, the national animal.
Visiting Researchers Program, FY2013B

Department of Disaster Management
VisionDepartment of Disaster Management being a premier organization strives to promote a
Safe and Happy Bhutan through Disaster Risk Reduction Initiatives in line with theRGoB's policy of Gross National Happiness.
Mission- Create awareness on disaster risks and their mitigation/prevention at all the levels.
- Facilitate pro-active & decentralized disaster management at all levels.
- Enhance
E handd strengthent th capacities
iti off disasterdi t managementt authorities/committees
th iti /itt att
all levels.
Motto“Reducing Disaster Risk for a Safe and Happy Bhutan”
Visiting Researchers Program, FY2013B

Department of Disaster Management
Director General

Administration Unit
Sr. Adm. Asst. - 1
Dispatcher - 1
Messenger - 1
Drivers-4

Personal AssistantPreparedness & Mitigation Division

Response and Relief Division

Chief Program Officer - 1
Program Officer-1
Asst Program Officer - 2
Asst.

Chief Program Officer - 1
PProgram
Officer
Offi-1
Asst. Program Officers - 4

Recovery and Reconstruction Division

Offtg. Chief Program Officer -1
Dy Ex.
Dy.
Ex Engineer-1
Asst. Program Officer-1

ICT & GIS Unit
Program OfficerOffi-1
ICT Officer-1
ICT Associate-1
JICA Sr. Volunteer - 1
Visiting Researchers Program, FY2013B

DM Institutions as per DM Act, 2013
National Disaster Management Authority
Agency and Private Sector

Inter Ministerial Task Force

Department of Disaster Management
National Emergency Operation Center

Dzongkhag Disaster Management Committees
Thromde DM Committee

Dungkhag DM Committee

Dzongkhag Emergency
Operation Center

Gewog DM Committee
Visiting Researchers Program, FY2013B

Hazards in Bhutan
1.
2
2.
3.
4
4.
5.
6
6.
7.

Earthquakes
Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOF)
Floods/Flash floods
Landslides
Forest fires/Structural fires
Windstorms
OthersVisiting Researchers Program, FY2013B

Earthquake
21st September, 2009 Mongar Earthquake
Magnitude: 6.1 (10 km)
Time:i 2:53
2 3 p.m. BST
S
Repeated after-shocks
12 People killed

18th September, 2011 (Sikkim Earthquake)
Magnitude : 6.9 (19.7 km)
Time: 6:41 PM BST

Visiting Researchers Program, FY2013B

Glacial Lake Outburst Flood- 677 glaciers and 2,794 glacier- 25 glacierl i lakes
l k potentiallyt ti ll dangerous
d- 21 outburst cases in Bhutan(SATREPS Project, 2012)-17 events between 19th century and the 1970s- 4 cases of outburst in the last 40 years

Visiting Researchers Program, FY2013B

Reducing Risks and Vulnerabilities from GLOF
ClimateClit ChangeChriski k advocacy
dandd awareness: Department
D t t off
Disaster Management, MoHCA

Installation of GLOF earlyy warningg system:
yDepartment
pofHydro-Met Services, MoEA

Artificial lowering of Thorthormi Lake: Department ofG l andd Mines,
Geologyi MoEAA

Visiting Researchers Program, FY2013B

Floods- Recurrent Event- Eastern & Southern Region most vulnerable
Past events- Phuentsholing & Pasakha – Year 2000
- Eastern Bhutan – Year 2004
- Cyclone Aila – Year 2009 flood

Visiting Researchers Program, FY2013B

Fires on Forest and Human Settlement
Forest fires- AnnualAl event- 99.9 % manmade
Fires on Human Settlement- Unsafe habits – electrical wiring,
temporary housing-Use of wood
Other Hazards
1. Windstorms/ Thunderstorms/
Snowstorms/ Hailstorms
2. Epidemics, pests and diseases
Visiting Researchers Program, FY2013B

Underlying Vulnerabilities in Bhutan
1.
2
2.
3.
4
4.
5.
6
6.
7.
8
8.
9.

Unsafe Construction Practices
Rapid Urbanization
Lack of Enforcement
Socio Economic Factors
Socio-Economic
Lack of AwarenessLack of Preparedness Planning
Technical Expertise
C lt off Insurance
CultureI
Disaster Management Mainstreaming

Visiting Researchers Program, FY2013B

Preparedness Arrangement
1. Institutional, Legislative & Policy Frameworks
Sensitization
so oof Disasters s e Management
ge e Actc oof Bhutan,
u , 2013
0 3- Se- Formulation of rules and regulation
2. Hazard, Vulnerability and Risk Assessment- GLOF Hazard Zonation Mapping- Vulnerability Checklist and Assessment
3 Earl3.
Early Warning SSystems
stems- GLOF EWS for Punatsangchu along Punakha-Wangdue basin- Communityy based EWS
4. Disaster Preparedness Plans ( DM Plans & Contingency Plans)- Disaster Management (DM) Planning Guidelines (National, Dzongkhag,School)- Community Based Disaster Management Planning Process.
- Contigency Planning Guidlines under process
Visiting Researchers Program, FY2013B

Preparedness Arrangement
5. Safe School Initiatives for the Education
6. Mainstreamings eg oof DRR intoo thee dday-to-day
y o d y Developmental
eve op e Planningg Processes
ocesses
6. Public Awareness /Education- Extensive Public Education: Advocacy and campaigns on - hazards/risks/vulnerabilities.
- Earthquake risks : Do’s and Don’ts campaign-Emergency
Emergenc Medical & First Aid training
7. Capacity Development (Preparedness/Planning/ Response)
pTrainingsg- First Responder- Mock drills in Schools/First Aid Trainings- Search & Rescue (SAR) Trainings at the District/Thromde level- Preparedness planning/CBDRM ToT for District and some Geog Level
Officials (DM and Contingency Plans)
Visiting Researchers Program, FY2013B

Regulation and Policy Strategies
1.
2
2.
3.
4.

Disaster Management Act of Bhutan 2013
Disaster Management & Contingency Planning GuidelineSchool Disaster Management Planning Guideline
National Disaster Managementg
Strategygy

Visiting Researchers Program, FY2013B

Issues and Challenges
1.

Non-enactment of Disaster Management Bill of the Kingdom of Bhutan (until early 2013).

2
2.

DDM, MoHCA as the National Coordinating/Nodal Agency needs to build its managerial andDDM
technical capacity.

3.

Understaffing in the Department hampers effective and efficient functioning.

4.

Disaster management is a new discipline and therefore there is a need to create adequateawareness and advocacy on disaster management issues at all levels.

5.

Inadequate capacity at Community/Dzongkhag/Sectoral/Ministerial levels for planning andimplementing DM activities.

6.

Lack of disaster information/data, multi-hazard zonation and vulnerability maps which are
pre-requisite for planning DRR activities.

7
7.

Funding/Resources constraints to carry out DM activities
activities.

Visiting Researchers Program, FY2013B

Way Forward
1.

Formulation of Bye-Laws, Rules and Regulations, SOPs, minimum Standards, Guidelines as
per the DM Act 2013.

2.

Approval of National Disaster Risk Management Strategy document (draft).

3.

Approval for the Emergency Communication Network Master Plan and setting up of the NEOC.

4.

Strengthening and expanding the existing National Search & Rescue Team (NaSART).

5.

Formation of SAR teams at local levels; training and equipping them.

6.

Procurement of advanced SAR equipment.

7.

Setting up of SAR Training Institute or tie up with the existing RBP/RBA training institutes.

8.

Proposal for delinking and upgrading Fire Service Division, RBP.

9.

Involvement of CSO/NGO/Religious Institutions in DM.

10.

Inclusion of DM module into School and College curriculum/syllabus

11.

Recruitment of 20 District Disaster Management Officers .

Visiting Researchers Program, FY2013B

Research Plan: VR FY2014B“Best practices of Japan in the use of Geographic Information System (GIS), RemoteSensing and Information & Communication Technology for Disaster Risk Reduction(Disaster Information Management System and Emergency Response Systems)”

Main Focus:
1.
2.
3.
4
4.
5.
6.

Overall Disaster Management System in Japan: Best Practices
Disaster Information Management System (Tracking Resources for Response).
Disaster Inventory (Using past disaster data for risk analysis and decision making:mainstreaming in planning processes).
Functioning of Emergency Communication System and Emergency Operation System atdifferent levels.
Early Warning Systems (Dissemination of early warning messages using ICT)Emergency Response Systems (using GIS & Remote Sensing)

Visiting Researchers Program, FY2013B

http://www.mohca.gov.bt

http://www.ddm.gov.bt

Department of Disaster Management
Ministry of Home & Cultural Affairs
Royal Government of Bhutanབཀའབཀའ་ ནི ་ཆེཆ་ལགས།།
Thank You
Visiting Researchers Program, FY2013B