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WMO’s Activities in Disaster Risk Reduction

byby

Dr. Maryam Golnaraghi Dr. Maryam Golnaraghi ChiefChief

Disaster Prevention and Mitigation ProgrammeDisaster Prevention and Mitigation Programme

21 January 200521 January 2005

WMO-JMA Public Forum WorkshopWMO-JMA Public Forum Workshop

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Global distribution of natural hazards (1993-2002)

Avalanches and landslides

6%

Droughts and famines

9%

Earthquakes8%

Extreme Temperatures

5%

Floods37%

Forest/scrub fires5%

Windstorms28%

Volcanic eruptions

2%

90 % of Natural Disasters are related to Weather, Water, and Climate Source: CRED

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0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

1970s 1980s 1990s

No of reported disasters

No reported killed(thousands)

No reported affected(millions)

Damage (billions US$)

Evolution of Natural Disasters and Their Impacts

(source: CRED)

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Developing Countries are Hit the Hardest…(source: CRED)

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Role of WMO and NMHS’s in Natural Disaster Risk Reduction

ObservingMonitoringDetectingForecast and early warnings Vulnerability analysis and risk assessmentPublic awarenessSector-specific applications

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Natural hazards do not need to become natural disasters …

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WMO’s Global Network

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WMO Network of Global and Specialized Regional Centres

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WMO and National Meteorological and Hydrological Services Detect, Monitor and Issue Early Warnings

for a Wide Range of Hazards

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Early warning systems

including effective alert and response

mechanisms at the community

level could prevent hazards from becoming

disasters

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WMO Global Tropical Cyclone Monitoring and Early Warning System has Proven to be

Highly Effective

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• Goal: Further improve early warnings systems for all hazards and ensure that they are available to all countries, Particularly those with least resources

• Action: WMO, through its scientific and technical programmes and in working with the NMHSs is working towards this goal.

• Strategy: Through an enhanced coordinated, integrated, user-driven approach and strong partnerships with various stakeholders, WMO will accelerate this process.

Moving ahead ….

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Need for Tsunami Early warning Systems in at-Risk Regions

• Partnerships – UNESCO-IOC, the leading UN agency in development of Tsunami early Warnings, and other key players

• Coordinated and phased approach to ensure WMO’s capabilities are optimally delivered

• Role of NMHSs• Capacity building and

technology transfer• Awareness raising among

risk managers and public