Floods And Regional Disaster Preparedness: Too Little, Too Late? – Analysis

As the floods in Thailand and Cambodia continue, the state of regional cooperation is proving critical in addressing the difficulties faced by affected countries. Disaster preparedness is increasingly vital.

October 20, 2011

By Mely Caballero-Anthony and Sofiah Jamil

RSIS

HEAVY RAINS in the Thailand and Cambodia since July 2011 have resulted in high socio-economic costs from flood damage and has claimed at least 500 lives. For Thailand with areas only two metres above sea level, the flood is said to be the country’s worst in the past 50 years, with a third of its provinces declared disaster zones. However, such incidents are not all that new nor unexpected, for two main reasons:

Firstly, various studies have highlighted the increasing vulnerability of Southeast Asian countries to weather–related disasters. Among these is the Report by the International Development Research Centre, which has highlighted areas in Southeast Asia that are highly vulnerable to various environmental hazards. Similarly, other reports, such as those by the World Bank, United Nations and World Wide Fund have highlighted the socio-economic factors that increase vulnerabilities, such as rising population densities in cities. Secondly, there is existing knowledge and solutions to control floods, based on the region’s long experience with disasters. These factors are particularly significant in Southeast Asia, which is home to at least three megacities – Bangkok, Jakarta and Manila.

Disaster Demands Response Evaluation: Rights Advocate

(Photo: AP)

Men Kimseng, VOA Khmer
Washington, DC Tuesday, 30 November 2010

“I just want to ask you [authorities] whether you're at peace when this happens within your area of responsibility and your carelessness.”

A leading rights activist says last week's deadly bridge stampede and the authorities' response to it reflect a poor safety and security system that needs addressed for large events.

In order to avoid a future disaster, Cambodia must now focus on safety measures, including building structures, training of security teams and safety exits, said Thun Saray, president of the rights group Adhoc, as a guest on “Hello VOA.”

The Diamond Bridge stampede left 351 dead and 395 injured at last count, one of the worst disasters in decades, and authorities, including Prime Minister Hun Sen, have said no one will be held directly accountable.

A government investigating committee said the stampede was caused when thousands of people panicked on a swaying suspension bridge, leaving victims trampled and asphyxiated.

“We don't want to say who is right or wrong,” Thun Saray said. “But this is an experience for which we have to examine our preparedness so as not to have such an event in the future.”

Callers to Monday's program demanded to see more responsibility for the fatal disaster.

“As a Cambodian, I want to make sure that the lives of my countrymen lost in the incident do not go in vain,” said caller Sok Pheary, from Phnom Penh. “I just want to ask you [authorities] whether you're at peace when this happens within your area of responsibility and your carelessness.”

Thun Saray said Cambodia was not ready to push officials to resign over the incident.

“Our country does not have a culture of accountability as in civilized countries,” he said.

South-East Asia disaster-management pact comes into force

Thu, 24 Dec 2009
DPA

Jakarta - An agreement on joint efforts to respond to disasters in South-East Asia came into force Thursday, the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) said. The ASEAN Agreement on Disaster Management and Emergency Response has been ratified by all 10 ASEAN members after four months of negotiations, the Jakarta-based ASEAN secretariat said in a statement.

It contains provisions on disaster risk identification, monitoring and early warning, prevention and mitigation, preparedness and response, rehabilitation, cooperation and research, mechanisms for coordination, and simplified customs and immigration procedures, the statement said.

The agreement, which was signed by ASEAN foreign ministers in July 2005, also provides for the creation of a regional coordinating centre for humanitarian assistance in the event of a disaster.

A programme to put the agreement into action from 2010 to 2015 is to be adopted in early March.

ASEAN comprises Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam.

ASEAN officials meet in Cambodia for disaster management

PHNOM PENH, June 16 (Xinhua) -- At least 30 officials from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) met in Cambodia's capital Phnom Penh on Tuesday for disaster management and cooperation of mutual benefits with the support from Asia disaster reduction center.

The three-day conference focuses on the capacity building for government officials on disaster management, according to the conference documents.

The participants will help each other if in case of necessary events and will share information to prevent disaster, the documents said.

According to a report from Cambodia's National Committee of Disaster Management (NCDM), 49 storms hit the country in the first five months of this year, killing two people and injuring 45 others. The disasters also destroyed 575 houses and damaged 717 others.

There are also 50 fires reported in the first five months of this year, causing nine deaths and five injuries. The fires also destroyed 650 houses, 230 stores and 65 tons of un-milled rice in the country.

Lighting strikes killed 79 people and injured two others.

Disaster hazards have increased sharply compared with the same period of last year, NCDM said.

The ASEAN includes the ten countries of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.