1. International Efforts in Developing Early Warning
Systems in the Asia-Pacific Region
ABU/ESCAP/UNESCO Workshop on Emergency Warnings and
Communications for Disaster Risk Reduction
18-19 June 2013, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Mr. Alf Ivar Blikberg, Programme Officer
Trust Fund for Tsunami, Disaster and Climate Preparedness
United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP)
2. Asia-Pacific is the Most Disaster Prone Region
in the World
Source: ESCAP based on data from EM-DAT: The OFDA/CRED International Disaster Database
Disasters by region (1980-2011)
4. Asia-Pacific Hard Hit by 2008 Financial Crisis
Change in growth rates in GDP and exports of developing Asia-Pacific (percentage)
-30
-20
-10
0
10
20
30
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 (p)
GDP exports services exports merchandise
5. ESCAP in Disaster Risk Reduction
ESCAP promotes disaster risk reduction
as an integral part of securing inclusive
and sustainable development for people in
the Asia-Pacific region, in collaboration
with its members, associate members and
partners.
Modalities
•Convening authority
•Regional coordination
•Knowledge sharing and networking
•Advocacy
6. ESCAP Trust Fund for Tsunami,
Disaster and Climate Preparedness
Background/history:
•2004: Indian Ocean Tsunami - recognition of need for an
effective regional disaster preparedness mechanism.
•2005: Tsunami Regional Trust Fund established –
US$ 10 million grant from Royal Thai Government to support
tsunami early warning in Indian Ocean and Southeast Asian
countries.
•2010: Scope expanded to also include disaster and climate
preparedness, with a continued focus on coastal hazards. Name
changed to Trust Fund for Tsunami, Disaster and Climate
Preparedness.
7. ESCAP Trust Fund for Tsunami,
Disaster and Climate Preparedness
Role:
Financial support for end-to-end early
warning systems, focusing primarily on
coastal hazards in Indian Ocean and
Southeast Asian countries.
Funding priorities – three pillars:
•Regional intergovernmental
mechanisms
•Specific country needs
•Civil society innovations and
private sector initiatives
8. Risk knowledge
Systematically collect
data and undertake
risk assessments
Monitoring and
warning service
Develop hazard
monitoring and
early warning
services
Dissemination /
communication
Communicate risk
information and
early warnings
Response
capability
Build national and
community response
capabilities
ESCAP Trust Fund for Tsunami,
Disaster and Climate Preparedness
End-to-End Early Warning
9.
10. ESCAP Trust Fund for Tsunami,
Disaster and Climate Preparedness
Donor contributions:
Thailand: $ 10 million
Sweden: $ 2.9 million
Turkey: $ 200,000
Philippines: $ 20,000
Bangladesh: $ 10,000
Nepal: $ 5,000
Total: $13,135,000
(all figures in US$, as of May 2013)
11. ESCAP Trust Fund for Tsunami,
Disaster and Climate Preparedness
UN partners:
ISDR, UNDP, WMO, IOC-UNESCO, UNEP, OCHA
Grant recipients:
Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC), Asian Disaster
Reduction Center (ADRC), IOC-UNESCO, UNDP Maldives, Sri
Lanka Disaster Management Center, Maldives Meteorological
Service, UNDP Indonesia, UNESCO Indonesia, Asia-Pacific
Broadcasting Union (ABU), UNDP Asia-Pacific Regional Centre,
Raks Thai Foundation, RIMES, Typhoon Committee
12. ESCAP Trust Fund for Tsunami,
Disaster and Climate Preparedness
Significant progress made since 2005 includes:
•Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning System operational in 2011,
with India, Indonesia and Australia as regional service
providers;
•Regional Integrated Multi-Hazard Early Warning System for
Africa and Asia (RIMES) established in 2009/2010, providing
cost-effective early warning services and products; and,
•Progress in risk assessments, SOP development and response
capability in several countries.
13. ESCAP Trust Fund for Tsunami,
Disaster and Climate Preparedness
But significant needs and gaps remain:
•Continued awareness raising and testing/updating of SOPs is
needed (an early warning system is never ‘complete’);
•Certain countries have still very limited domestic capacity;
•Challenge: reaching the ‘last mile’ (most vulnerable people and
communities, often in remote areas) with early warning, thus
the involvement of medias broadcasters is needed.
=> Actors receiving Trust Fund support have recommended a
more integrated, coordinated approach, particularly related to
SOPs (Bangkok, May 2013)
Editor's Notes
06/20/13
Regional coordination - chairing the UN Regional Coordination Mechanism Knowledge sharing and networking - through analytical work, capacity building etc. Advocacy - MDGs, HFA, social protection, and cross-border issues
