Disaster Prevention and Mitigation in Asia: Assessing Capacities, Needs, and Opportunities

1. First Session of the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Programme Coordination Meeting of WMO Programmes and Constituent Bodies Geneva, 4 - 6 December 2006 Regional capacities, opportunities, gaps and needs Report of Asia (Regional Association II) Kuniyuki SHIDA Development Cooperation and Regional Activities (DCR) Department on behalf of Chairperson of RA II Working Group on DPM (Dr M.C. Wong)

2. Agenda • Impacts of hazards in Asia • Preliminary results of the WMO country-level DPM survey • Preliminary results of the WMO regional-level DPM survey • Opportunities and recent initiatives for implementation of the Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA), and key partners • Regional activities and capacities available through WMO network (RSMCs and RTCs)

3. Region II (Asia) • Covers the Indian Ocean and part of Pacific Ocean with diverse eco-systems including desert encompassing central and western Asia • 35 Member countries and territories • Includes 9 LDCs (out of 50) Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Republic of Yemen • Two of the world’s most populated countries (China and India) • Fastest growing economic region

4. Impacts of hazards in Asia

5. Number of Disasters (1980-2005) Source: EM-DAT: The OFDA/CRED International Disaster Database - www.em-dat.net - Université Catholique de Louvain - Brussels - Belgiumc Nearly 90% of disasters are related to hydro-meteorological factors

6. Loss of Human Life (1980-2005) Source: EM-DAT: The OFDA/CRED International Disaster Database - www.em-dat.net - Université Catholique de Louvain - Brussels - Belgium 40% of loss of life is related to hydro-meteorological factors

7. Economic Losses (1980-2005) Source: EM-DAT: The OFDA/CRED International Disaster Database - www.em-dat.net - Université Catholique de Louvain - Brussels - Belgium 65% of economic losses are related to hydro-meteorological factors

8. Preliminary results of the WMO country-level DPM surveyin RA II (Asia)

9. Responses to the WMO Country-Level DPM Survey in Asia 25 out of 34 Members responded RA II

10. Ranking of the hazards from the country-level survey HIGH IMPACTS LOW IMPACTS

11. Number of Members keeping data archives HIGH IMPACT LOW IMPACT Strong winds Thunderstorm or lightning Drought Flash flood Heat wave Earthquakes Hazards to aviation River flooding Dense fog Hailstorm Sandstorm Landslide or mudslide Tropical cyclone Forest or wild land fire Smoke, Dust or Haze Tsunami Cold wave Waterborne hazards Heavy snow Coastal flooding Marine hazards Storm surge Tornado Avalanche Desert locust swarm Airborne substances Freezing rain Volcanic events • Very few Members maintain impact databases • Need for strengthening National Meteorological and Hydrological Services' capacities for hazard data archiving

12. Number of Members issuing warnings HIGH IMPACT LOW IMPACT Strong winds Thunderstorm or lightning Drought Flash flood Heat wave Earthquakes Hazards to aviation River flooding Dense fog Hailstorm Sandstorm Landslide or mudslide Tropical cyclone Forest or wild land fire Smoke, Dust or Haze Tsunami Cold wave Waterborne hazards Heavy snow Coastal flooding Marine hazards Storm surge Tornado Avalanche Desert locust swarm Airborne substances Freezing rain Volcanic events Warnings could be significantly enhanced through strengthening of National Meteorological and Hydrological Services' capacities

13. Contributions of NMHSs to key sectors relevant to Disaster Risk Management The contributions could be significantly enhanced through strengthening of National Meteorological and Hydrological Services' capacities

14. Limiting factors of NMHSs in their contribution to disaster risk management

15. Areas in which WMO's global and regional efforts could enhance NMHSs' contribution to disaster risk management

16. Preliminary results of the WMO regional-level DPM survey in RA II (Asia)

17. Regional-level DPM survey is being implemented by RA Working Group on DPM to address issues related to: i) Providing information on initiatives through various economic groupings and agencies to develop regional strategic plans for implementing the Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA) ii) Strengthening regional capacity’s in disaster risk management iii) Identification and prioritization of hazards that pose the greatest risk resulting in a need for cross boundary / sub-regional / regional collaboration and cooperation iv) Understanding the current capacities and activities in the region in support of disaster risk management, and how these regional capacities and activities support these focus areas, including the projects underway through the working groups of the Regional Association v) Identification of gaps and needs and cross-boundary challenges for enhancing capacities in support of disaster risk management vi) Regional priorities with respect to addressing these gaps and needs vii) Identification of existing and potential future partnerships and concrete project areas of the regional association with other agencies involved in disaster risk reduction. viii) Prioritization of activities / projects in support of Members capacities in disaster risk management in your Regional Association.

18. Preliminary results of the WMO DPM Regional-Level Survey Asia is the most hazard prone continent. Top five threats to RAII Members are posed by “Strong Winds”, “Thunderstorm/ lightning”, “Drought” , “Flash Flood” and “Heat Wave”. (The % shown after hazard type refers to the percentage of Members in RAII affected by the hazard )

19. Preliminary results of the WMO DPM Regional-Level Survey • Wide gap in capabilities between NMHSs of developing and developed countries, in particular, in observation, telecommunication, data processing and forecasting systems in support of forecasting and warning services • Lack of consistent disaster impact information in Region • Disconnect between NMHSs and DPM decision makers/major stakeholders decreases efficacy of disaster management efforts in some Members

20. Challenges and Opportunities : Observation Systems Issue • Improved availability of synoptic data in Region is a result of prompt coordinated efforts of Members and Secretariat; Keep up the good work! • Some Members lack adequate infrastructures such as weather surveillance radars, meteorological satellite receiving systems, automatic weather stations, raingauge networks; Provision of technical advice and specifications to enhance observing networks and operational infrastructure to these Members countries should be accorded high-priority. • New earth observing satellites pose difficulties to NMHSs in developing countries that may not afford to have more than one receiver; Feasibility of obtaining satellite data via the internet for Members in the Region should be explored.

21. Challenges and Opportunities : Telecommunication Issue • Some Members have no connection to GTS while a number of regional circuit were operating at low speeds. • Need to implement and modernise regional meteorological telecommunication network. • Enhanced use of the Internet for exchange of meteorological data in the Region should be explored. • Members participated actively in the Virtual Private Network Pilot Project to study the use of Internet as a telecommunication means in WMO Information System.

22. Challenges and Opportunities: Data-Processing and Forecasting Systems Issue • Some NMHSs are not equipped with automated systems to acquire the minimum level of data-processing capability; technical assistance to these Members to be explored • Some Members still have large deficiencies in Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) capabilities and were unable to derive benefits from such technological advances, esp. the high-quality products from Regional Specialised Meteorological Centres and advanced Members; • Pilot Project on the Provision of City-Specific NWP Products to Developing Countries via the Internet is in good progress. The pilot project was intended to help enhance public weather services and warnings in the Region.

23. RA II Pilot Project on Provision of City-Specific NWP Products to Developing Countries via the Internet • The pilot project provides individual participating Members with tailor-made NWP products from advanced centres via the Internet. • 10 Members are provided with forecast time series of their cities by 3 NWP centres in the Region. • A total of 86 cities are covered. • Regional Training on the utilization of such NWP products were organised for participating Members in October and November 2006.

24. Opportunities and recent initiatives for implementation of the Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA), and key partners

25. Regional Co-operation on Tropical Cyclones • Strong co-operation through ESCAP/WMO Typhoon Committee and WMO/ESCAP Panel on Tropical Cyclones for the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea • Members of the Typhoon Committee (14): Cambodia; China; DPR Korea; Hong Kong, China; Japan; Lao DPR; Macao, China; Malaysia; Philippines; Republic of Korea;Singapore; Thailand;United States of America; and Vietnam. Most of the Members belong to RA II, but some belong to RA V. • Members of the Panel on Tropical Cyclones (8): Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Myanmar, Oman, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Thailand. All are Members from RAII. • Members attend the annual sessions of the Typhoon Committee and the Panel on Tropical Cyclones and participated actively in related projects/activities. • Members work closely to develop the Regional Coordination Programme Implementation Plans of the Typhoon Committee and the Panel on Tropical Cyclones.

26. Recent Initiatives of ESCAP/WMO Typhoon Committee • Holding of “Joint Workshop on Integrating Activities of Meteorology, Hydrology, and Disaster Preparedness and Prevention Components of the Typhoon Committee into the related International Framework for Disaster Risk Management for Better Impacts and Visibility” to provide a platform for the various Working Groups to discuss and define high priority regional actions required to reduce the loss of life and social and economic impacts from tropical cyclones. • Scheme to proportion annual budget based upon the priority actions contained in the Annual Operation Plan (AOP) and the successes achieved by Working Groups in the previous year’s AOP.

27. Recent Initiatives of ESCAP/WMO Typhoon Committee (cont.) • Development of region-wide Disaster Information System (DIS) accessible to decision makers, disaster management servicesand other users designated by Members; The DIS will contain, amongst other information, disaster impact information and an inventory of Members’ existing early warning systems, disaster reduction techniques and management strategies. • Establishment of expert teams to assist in the development and implementation of early warning systems and strategic planning in disaster management.

28. Recent Initiatives of ESCAP/WMO Typhoon Committee (cont.) • Outreach activities and face-to-face meetings with local community to facilitate dissemination of warnings through the “Last Mile” • Flash floods and sediment disaster warning project to assist Members to develop warning and evacuation system against sediment disasters • Flood Hazard Mapping (FHM) Project to promoting FHM activity in Members’ own country/territory with participation of respective DPP agencies and communities

29. Regional Co-operation in Aral Sea Region • Aral-HYCOS: A component of WHYCOS system for building the capacity of water resources management and promoting cooperation in the collection, transmission, processing, archiving and use of hydrological data and information • Aral-HYCOS covers 5 Members in Central Asia (Kyrgyz Republic, Republic of Kazakhstan, Republic of Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan) in the preparatory stage for implementation • The major outcome of Aral-HYCOS will be a consistent regional information system for hydrology

30. Cooperation with International/Regional Agencies • Experts from Members hold offices and take lead in DPM activities and projects of the ESCAP/WMO Typhoon Committee and WMO/ESCAP/ Panel on Tropical Cyclones. The Chair, RAII DPM WG serves as Vice-Chair of the Working Group on DPM of the Typhoon Committee. • Experts from Members participated actively in regional DPM seminars/workshops and training courses organized by the UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR), Asian Disaster Reduction Center (ADRC) and the Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC).

31. Regional activities and capacities available through WMO network (RSMCs and RTCs)

32. Regional Specialised Meteorological Centres (RSMCs) • Five RSMCs with geographical specialization • Beijing, Jeddah, New Delhi, Tashkent, Tokyo • Two RSMCs on tropical cyclones in RA II: • RSMC Tokyo Typhoon Center • RSMC New Delhi Tropical Cyclone Center • Two RSMCs on Environmental Emergency Response in RAII: • RSMC Tokyo and RSMC Beijing for provision of atmospheric transport model products in support of Environmental Emergency Response • It would be desirable to strengthening and improve the functions and services of RSMCs to facilitate provision of more accurate and timely warnings by Members. • RSMCs are encouraged to be more active in supporting the plans and requirements related to capacity building and transfer of technology in close cooperation with Members in Region.

33. WMO Websites: Official Forecasts and Warnings World Weather Information Service (WWIS) 31 RA II Members participate in providing official city forecasts Host of websites: China - Chinese Hong Kong, China - English Macao,China - Portuguese Oman – Arabic Severe Weather Information Centre (SWIC) Hosted by Hong Kong, China 12 participating organizations in RA II Members are encouraged to support exchange of official forecasts and warnings by contributing to WWIS and SWIC as well as promulgating its use among members of public and media

34. WMO Voluntary Co-operation Programme(VCP):Regional Capacity Building • The WMO VCP provides significant assistance to many Members in RA II to enhance their hazard forecasting and warning capabilities. • These take the form of: • provision of equipment and services including improvement of global observing systems, GTS, GDPFS, satellite reception, implementation of internet capabilities, and • expert services and fellowships/training.

35. WMO Voluntary Co-operation Programme(VCP):Regional Capacity Building (cont.) • On-going projects include upgrading of GTS communication between NMC Yangon and RTH Bangkok, upgrading of the AWS In Yangon, connection of NMC Sana’a to the GTS in the Republic of Yemen and provision of AWS to DPRK. • Several VCP projects prior to 31 December 2005 approved for circulation which are still valid have yet to receive offer of support. These include (i) strengthening of the surface observing network in Myanmar; (ii) Flood forecasting system system for the delta areas of Myanmar (2005) and (iiI) Software for operational drought monitoring system, Uzbekistan (2003).

36. Some Thoughts On Meeting DPM Challenges in Region • Encourage Members to strengthen collaboration on the implementation of the Regional Cooperation Programme Implementation Plans of the Typhoon Committee and the Panel on Tropical Cyclones • Strengthen and improve the functions and services of RSMCs to enhance accuracy and timeliness of warnings by Members • Strengthen the links between NMHSs and national disaster manager and other institutions, esp. the media, through consultation processes and joint activities

37. Some Thoughts On Meeting DPM Challenges in Region (cont.) • Develop standardised definition and methodology for collection of disaster impact information • Explore feasibility of establishing of a regional archive on disaster information including impact data • Promote research initiatives on tropical cyclone, rainstorm, drought and heat stress • Promote awareness of public on disaster risks in Region using roving seminars and exhibitions

38. Some Thoughts On Meeting DPM Challenges in Region (cont.) • Enhance regional capacity building and technology transfer in the following areas: • observing and data processing data systems • information and communication technology • provision of public weather services and warnings • nowcasting of severe weather • application of NWP products

39. THANK YOU