No 1, 2005

Current Concerns
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		No 1, 2005

07 Feb 2012, 06:16 PM

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Tsunami Catastrophe and the Need for Disaster Preparedness and Risk Reduction Measures

js. Reducing the impact of disasters, predicting and even preventing disasters, is central to the work of the International Federation and its member Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies around the world. These 118 societies are involved in a variety of disaster preparedness activities that are helping to mitigate and reduce negative effects of disasters. This is carried out alongside work to help National Societies cope with the consequences of disasters at local, national and international levels.

The development of national capacities is essential if Red Cross Red Crescent is to be able to serve the needs of the most vulnerable effectively. National Societies are acutely aware that greater attention has to be paid to preventive strategies aimed at saving lives and protecting resources and assets before they are lost.

Individuals of all religions share a common belief and compassion for their fellow human beings. The Red Cross Red Crescent Societies’ speciality is to motivate and train people to work within these organisations in their local communities, nationally and internationally, so they can assist vulnerable people, irrespective of their race or beliefs.

The International Federation’s credibility relies on its being able to raise adequate funds, operate independently and deliver services and assistance to people in need.

From 18 to 21 January , the World Conference on Disaster Reduction took place in the Japanese city of Kobe, struck by a terrible earthquake ten years ago. The operation to assist hundreds of thousands of people affected by the tsunami in Asia and Africa has highlighted the importance of disaster preparedness and risk reduction measures.

Conventional disaster defences alone will fail tsunami-hit countries, says Red Cross Red Crescent in Kobe

Several billion dollars have been pledged to restore regions devastated by the Asian tsunamis but people will remain in harm’s way unless greater funds are invested to help communities themselves reduce the risks and withstand natural disaster, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said today as the World Conference on Disaster Reduction opened in Kobe, Japan.

Early-warning hardware and the construction of physical protection such as dikes and strengthened housing will count for little if the population remains unprepared for hazards the future will undoubtedly bring, the largest humanitarian organization said.

Disaster after disaster has brought a huge worldwide response to support relief efforts. Yet the shortage of long-term investment in community-based disaster preparedness and risk reduction means many catastrophes could repeat themselves with equal devastation. “You cannot prevent disaster by building infrastructure alone,” says Markku Niskala, the International Federation’s Secretary General. “There has to be a culture of disaster risk reduction. People must understand all the risks they face and what measures they can take to minimize them.”

“It isn’t enough to know a tsunami, or some other catastrophe, is coming. Unless a community knows what to do, the vulnerable will continue to perish in large numbers. Creating the necessary awareness needs long-term commitment and funding,” Markku Niskala adds. High-tech warning systems need to be supplemented by efficient information transfer reaching even the remotest community – and the individual fisherman must know how to react.

The impact of disasters is increasing, the Federation points out. Over the past decade weather-related and geophysical disasters have caused 68 per cent and 62 per cent more damage. Since 1960 these figures have multiplied by more than seven and five times respectively. Yet by comparison, the Federation says, investment in preparedness has been minuscule. “How many people must die or fall into abject poverty before the world at large faces up to reality?” comments Markku Niskala, adding that disaster preparedness and mitigation will be a key component of the Federation’s longer-term programming in the tsunami-affected countries.

He noted that this is one of the great strengths of Japan’s disaster preparedness, where communities and volunteers have proved themselves able to cope as well as is possible in the face of major earthquake disasters. The timing of this World Conference, ten years after the great earthquake which devastated Kobe in 1995, is an important reminder of the importance of community-based disaster preparedness. Niskala said the Federation delegation at the Conference will be stressing this message, and highlighting the ability of volunteers to help ensure that early warning also reaches the most isolated and vulnerable communities.

www.ifrc.org Press release 18 January 2005