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Dealing with Disasters
From Anticipation to Aftermath
Kuniyoshi Takeuchi: Winning Against Disasters through Knowledge and Localism
“Lack of preparedness and poor governance amplify the impacts of disasters,” says Dr. Kuniyoshi Takeuchi, Director of the International Center for Water Hazard and Risk Management (ICHARM). Among water disasters, floods take the highest toll in terms of human lives and damages. Advanced and localized geo-scientific knowledge, land use planning, and integrated flood planning are crucial if governments are to prepare for, and mitigate, their impacts.
TopMaking Disasters Less Disastrous
Good preparations soften the impact of any disaster. ADB’s Hubert Jenny explains a systemic approach to disaster risk management that could curtail natural calamities’ negative impacts.
Weather-beaten Asia needs resilient rice, which can withstand the worst natural calamities. Fortunately, homegrown solutions in Bangladesh, China and Myanmar are promising.
Marikina’s days of being saddled with a dying river, clogged drainage, and endless floods are over. Learn flood preparedness and management from one of Asia-Pacific’s most livable cities.
ADB Continues Nonrevenue Water Management Training Course
ADB’s Water Operators Partnerships Program prepares for the second of a three-part training course on nonrevenue water management for South and Southeast Asian water utilities in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 10-14 November. The first training course was held on 12-16 May in Manila, Philippines.
New Water Knowledge Hub on Hydroinformatics Launched
The Center for Hydroinformatics in River Basins (CHIRB) is an important member of the Asia-Pacific Water Forum’s KnowledgeHubs network. CHIRB will help develop decision-support mechanisms for river basin management in the Asia-Pacific region. View other water knowledge hubs.
Sanitation Solutions Sought in Australia, China, Viet Nam Conferences
Sanitation takes center stage as three major conferences—Sanitation and Water Conference 2008 on 27-29 October in Melbourne, World Toilet Summit on 4-6 November in Macau, and Conference on Sanitation Options in the Asia-Pacific on 18-20 November in Hanoi—aim to identify strategies for large-scale sanitation solutions.
Georgia: ADB Aid Package to Bring Water Supply, Other Public Services
“Many municipalities in Georgia don’t have the resources they need to give their people clean drinking water, good roads, and other basic services,” said ADB’s Juan Miranda. An ADB US$40M loan will improve the quality, coverage, and continuity of critical urban services.
India: ADB Extends Additional $71 Million Loan for Water Supply Project
Huge cost overrun due to rupee appreciation and price increases has prompted ADB to approve a US$71M supplementary loan for an urban water supply project in Madhya Pradesh. The original US$181M loan agreement between ADB and India was signed in 2005.
India: Multi-Tranche ADB Loan Offers Irrigation Improvements
“Bottlenecks in water resources are increasingly seen as a major threat to India’s economic growth,” ADB’s Kenichi Yokoyama said. More efficient irrigation in Orissa, through an ADB US$188.2M loan, will relieve pressure from river basins and accelerate agricultural growth.
Indonesia: ADB Supports Community-Driven Rural Infrastructure Development
A US$50M 32-year ADB loan will be used to repair and expand infrastructure services, including water and sanitation, health, education, and transport in rural Indonesia. Using community-driven development approaches, the project will benefit about 2 million people.
Mekong: ADB to Help Lay Groundwork for Water, Sanitation Project
Nine towns serving as “economic corridors” among Mekong countries will soon have better water and sanitation services. ADB is preparing for this project that will not only benefit 200,000 people, but also strengthen cross-border ties and expand economic opportunities.
Micronesia: Safe Water Supply Secured for Chuuk Residents
Safe water supply will soon reach residents of Chuuk in the Federated States of Micronesia through an ADB US$980,000 grant. The project will increase groundwater supply, improve water quality, protect watersheds, and reduce incidence of waterborne diseases.
Philippines: Provincial Urban Areas to Benefit from ADB Water Supply Project
A US$1.2M grant from ADB’s Water Financing Partnership Facility will help prepare a project that will improve water supply and sanitation in urban areas outside Metro Manila. The project will boost water utilities’ capacity and improve living conditions in provincial cities.
Samoa: Partnership with ADB to Improve Water, Basic Services
ADB and Samoa signed a Country Partnership Strategy (CPS) for improving water supply and other public services. ADB’s S. Hafeez Rahman said, “The CPS is expected to improve growth prospects and living standards, especially for disadvantaged members of the community.”
This paper discusses problems with the engineering approach to flood mitigation, examines water-related disasters from the affected poor’s perspective, and proposes steps to help them cope more effectively.
Climate change is one of the most serious environmental problems threatening the planet today. Examine its impacts on the small and isolated island countries in the South Pacific.
| 27-29 Oct | Sanitation and Water Conference 2008: Meeting the Challenge in East Asia and the Pacific (Melbourne, Australia) |
| 4-6 Nov | World Toilet Summit (Macau, People’s Republic of China) |
| 10-14 Nov | 2nd Nonrevenue Water Management Training Course (Sabah, Malaysia) |
| 14 Nov | APWF Governing Council Meeting |
| 18-20 Nov | Sanitation Options in the Asia Pacific (Hanoi, Viet Nam) |
| 1-5 Dec | Regional Workshop on Developing Partnerships for Water and Climate Change Adaptation (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia) |
| 15-16 Dec | Asia-Pacific Regional Synthesis Meeting for the 5th World Water Forum (Tokyo, Japan) |
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