Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction

The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 is an international

agreement that was adopted by the United Nations member states at the World
Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction held in Sendai, Japan, on March 18, 2015. It
is the successor agreement to the Hyogo Framework for Action (2005-2015), which
had been the most encompassing international accord to date on disaster risk
reduction.
The Sendai Framework sets four specific priorities for action:
¥ Understanding disaster risk;
¥ Strengthening disaster risk governance to manage disaster risk;
¥ Investing in disaster risk reduction for resilience;
¥ Enhancing disaster preparedness for effective response, and to "Building
Back Better" in recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction.
The Framework also includes seven global targets to guide and against which to
assess progress. These targets are:
1. Substantially reduce disaster risk by 2030.
2. Strengthen the resilience of people, communities and countries to disaster
risk.
3. Reduce the economic losses due to disasters in relation to global gross
domestic product (GDP).
4. Substantially reduce the number of people affected by disasters, including by
reducing the number of deaths, the number of affected people and the
number of people displaced by disasters.
5. Increase the availability of and access to multi-hazard early warning systems
and disaster risk information and assessmentsto support decision-making at
all levels.
6. Substantially increase the number of countries with national and local
disaster risk reduction strategies by 2020, and ensure that these strategies
are integrated into relevant national development plans by 2030.
7. Enhance international cooperation to support the implementation of the
Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.
Here are some of the key things that the Sendai Framework is trying to achieve:
¥ Improve understanding of disaster risk.
¥ Strengthen disaster risk governance.
¥ Invest in disaster risk reduction.
¥ Enhance disaster preparedness.
¥ Build back better.
Phases of Disaster cycle
The disaster cycle is a continuous process that includes the following phases:
¥ Hazard identification and assessment: This phase involves identifying and
assessing the potential hazards that a community or region faces. This
includes natural hazards, such as earthquakes, floods, and droughts, as well
as man-made hazards, such as industrial accidents and chemical spills.
¥ Vulnerability assessment: This phase involves assessing the vulnerability of a
community or region to the identified hazards. This includes factors such as
the physical location of the community, the quality of infrastructure, and the
level of social and economic development.
¥ Risk assessment: This phase involves combining the hazard and vulnerability
assessments to determine the overall risk of a disaster occurring in a
particular community or region.
¥ Disaster risk reduction: This phase involves taking steps to reduce the risk of
a disaster occurring, such as building early warning systems, improving
infrastructure, and educating the public about disaster preparedness.
¥ Disaster response: This phase involves the immediate actions taken to save
lives and property after a disaster has occurred. This includes search and
rescue, medical care, and providing food and shelter to the affected
population.
¥ Disaster recovery: This phase involves the long-term efforts to rebuild
communities and infrastructure after a disaster has occurred. This includes
restoring essential services, providing housing, and helping businesses to
recover.
The disaster cycle is not linear. The phases can overlap and interact with each other
in complex ways. For example, disaster risk reduction activities can be carried out

¥ Disaster preparedness planning

¥ Community-based early warning systems
¥ Disaster education and awareness raising
¥ Community-based disaster response and recovery
CBDRR is an important part of the disaster risk reduction cycle. By engaging
communities in the process of disaster risk reduction, we can build more resilient
communities that are better prepared to face the challenges of disasters.
Structural and Non Structural measures :
¥ Structural and non-structural measures are two main types of disaster
management measures.
¥ Structural measures involve physical construction to reduce or avoid possible
impacts of hazards, or the application of engineering techniques or technology
to achieve hazard resistance and resilience in structures or systems.
¥ Non-structural measures do not involve physical construction and use
knowledge, practice or agreement to reduce disaster risks and impacts, in
particular through policies and laws, public awareness raising, training and
education.
Here are some examples of structural measures:
¥ Dams and levees to control floods
¥ Seawalls to protect coastal areas from storms
¥ Earthquake-resistant buildings
¥ Tsunami-resistant warning systems
¥ Early warning systems for volcanic eruptions
¥ Fire-resistant building codes
Here are some examples of non-structural measures:
¥ Land-use planning to avoid development in high-risk areas
¥ Public awareness campaigns about disaster risks
¥ Disaster preparedness training for individuals and communities
¥ Financial assistance for disaster victims
¥ Insurance against natural disasters
amendments also provided for the devolution of powers and responsibilities to
these institutions.
PRIs consist of three tiers:
¥ Gram Panchayats (village councils) at the village level
¥ Panchayat Samitis (block councils) at the intermediate level
¥ Zila Parishads (district councils) at the district level
ULBs also consist of three tiers:
¥ Municipal Corporations (cities)
¥ Municipal Councils (towns)
¥ Nagar Panchayats (small towns)
The members of PRIs and ULBs are elected by the people of their respective areas.
The term of office for PRIs and ULBs is five years.
The functions of PRIs and ULBs include:
¥ Planning and implementation of development programmes
¥ Provision of basic services such as education, health, water supply,
sanitation, and roads
¥ Regulation of local markets and trade
¥ Revenue collection
¥ Disaster management
States, Centre and other stake-holders
The stakeholders in disaster management include:
¥ States and Union Territories (UTs): The states and UTs are responsible for
disaster management within their respective jurisdictions. They have the
primary responsibility for planning, implementing, and monitoring disaster
management activities.
¥ Central Government: The central government provides support to the states
and UTs in disaster management. It provides financial assistance, technical
assistance, and training. It also plays a role in coordinating disaster
management efforts at the national level.
Local governments: Local governments, such as panchayats and
municipalities, play an important role in disaster management. They are
responsible for implementing disaster management plans at the local level.
¥ Civil society organizations (CSOs): CSOs play a valuable role in disaster
management. They can provide relief and rehabilitation assistance, raise
awareness about disaster risks, and advocate for disaster risk reduction
measures.
¥ Private sector: The private sector can also play a role in disaster
management. They can provide financial assistance, technical assistance,
and training. They can also help to develop and implement disaster
management plans.
¥ Individuals: Individuals can play a role in disaster management by being
prepared for disasters and by taking action to reduce disaster risks.
Institutional Processes and Framework at State and Central Level
Introduction
The institutional processes and framework for disaster management at the state
and central level in India are defined by the Disaster Management Act, 2005. The
Act establishes a four-tier disaster management system, with the National Disaster
Management Authority (NDMA) at the apex, followed by the National Authority (NA),
the State Authority (SA), and the District Authority (DA).
National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA)
The NDMA is the apex body for disaster management in India. It is headed by the
Prime Minister and has a Vice-Chairman, a Secretary, and other members. The
NDMA is responsible for formulating and coordinating the National Disaster
Management Plan (NDMP). It also provides financial assistance to states and UTs
for disaster management.
National Authority (NA)
The NA is established by the central government in each state and UT. It is headed
by the Chief Secretary and has a Member-Secretary, a Director, and other
members. The NA is responsible for implementing the NDMP in the state or UT. It
also coordinates with the SAs and DAs.
State Authority (SA)
The SA is established by the state government in each district. It is headed by the
District Collector and has a District Disaster Management Officer (DMO), a Deputy
DMO, and other members. The SA is responsible for implementing the NDMP in the
district. It also coordinates with the DAs.
District Authority (DA)
The DA is established by the district panchayat in each block. It is headed by the
Block Development Officer (BDO) and has a Block Disaster Management Officer
(BDO), a Deputy BDO, and other members. The DA is responsible for implementing
the NDMP in the block. It also coordinates with the Gram Panchayats.
The institutional processes and framework for disaster management at the state
and central level in India are designed to ensure that there is a coordinated and
effective response to disasters. The four-tier system ensures that there is a clear
division of responsibilities and that there is no overlap. The system also ensures that
there is a strong link between the central and state governments, as well as
between the state and district governments.
The institutional processes and framework for disaster management in India are
constantly evolving. The NDMA is working to strengthen the system and to make it
more responsive to the needs of the people.
Early Warning Systems
Understanding Early Warning System
An early warning system (EWS) is a system that provides timely and accurate
information about an impending hazard to allow individuals, communities, and
organizations to take action to avoid or reduce the impact of the hazard.
Defining Early Warning System (EWS)
The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) defines an early
warning system as "a set of capacities needed to generate and disseminate timely
and meaningful warning information to those who need it, to enable them to take
action to reduce the impact of a hazard."
Early Warning Practices and Systems
There are a variety of early warning practices and systems in use around the world.
Some of the most common include:
¥ Hydrological early warning systems: These systems are used to monitor
and forecast floods, droughts, and other water-related hazards.
Meteorological early warning systems: These systems are used to monitor
and forecast storms, cyclones, and other weather-related hazards.
¥ Volcanic early warning systems: These systems are used to monitor and
forecast volcanic eruptions.
¥ Seismic early warning systems: These systems are used to monitor and
forecast earthquakes.
¥ Early warning systems for other hazards: There are also early warning
systems for other hazards, such as tsunamis, wildfires, and landslides.
Key Elements of Early Warning Systems
The key elements of an early warning system include:
¥ Hazard monitoring: This involves collecting data about the hazard, such as
its location, intensity, and timing.
¥ Hazard forecasting: This involves using the data collected to forecast the
likely impact of the hazard.
¥ Warning dissemination: This involves communicating the warning
information to those who need it.
¥ Response planning: This involves developing plans for how to respond to
the hazard.
¥ Education and awareness: This involves raising awareness of the hazard
and the importance of early warning systems.
Essentials of EWS
The essentials of an early warning system include:
¥ Timeliness: The warning information must be provided in a timely manner,
so that people can take action to protect themselves.
¥ Accuracy: The warning information must be accurate, so that people can
make informed decisions about how to respond.
¥ Reliability: The warning system must be reliable, so that people can trust the
information that is being provided.
¥ Measurability: The effectiveness of the early warning system must be
measurable, so that improvements can be made.
¥ Transparency: The early warning system must be transparent, so that
people can understand how it works and how it is being used.
Community Based Early Warning System
A community-based early warning system (CBEWS) is an EWS that is developed
and implemented by the community itself. CBEWS are often more effective than
traditional EWS, as they are more likely to be trusted by the community and they are
more likely to be used.
Essential features of Community Based Early Warning Systems
The essential features of CBEWS include:
¥ Community ownership: The CBEWS must be owned and managed by the
community.
¥ Participation: All members of the community must be involved in the
development and implementation of the CBEWS.
¥ Communication: There must be effective communication channels between
the community and the EWS.
¥ Training: The community must be trained on how to use the CBEWS.
¥ Testing: The CBEWS must be tested regularly to ensure that it is working
effectively.
Cross Cutting Issues
There are a number of cross-cutting issues that are important for the effective
implementation of early warning systems. These include:
¥ Funding: Early warning systems can be expensive to develop and
implement.
¥ Sustainability: Early warning systems must be sustainable, so that they can
continue to operate over the long term.
¥ Gender: Early warning systems must be gender-sensitive, so that they can
meet the needs of all members of the community.
¥ Disability: Early warning systems must be accessible to people with
disabilities.
¥ Climate change: Climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of
hazards, which makes early warning systems even more important.
¥ The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD): The IMD is responsible for
monitoring and forecasting weather conditions. It also provides early warning
information about potential hazards.
¥ The Central Water Commission (CWC): The CWC is responsible for
monitoring and managing water resources. It also provides early warning
information about potential floods.
¥ The Geological Survey of India (GSI): The GSI is responsible for monitoring
and studying the earth's crust. It also provides early warning information
about potential earthquakes and landslides.
Financial arrangements
The financial arrangements for disaster management in India are governed by the
Disaster Management Act, 2005. The Act provides for a National Disaster Response
Fund (NDRF) and a State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF). The NDRF is used to
respond to disasters of national importance, while the SDRF is used to respond to
disasters of state importance.
Knowledge Dissemination through Information and Communication
Technologies (ICT)
Information and communication technologies (ICTs) are increasingly being used to
disseminate knowledge about disaster risk reduction. ICTs can be used to:
¥ Provide early warning information about potential hazards
¥ Educate people about disaster risk reduction
¥ Train people on how to respond to disasters
¥ Coordinate disaster response activities
ICTs can be an effective way to reach a large number of people with disaster risk
reduction information. They can also be used to provide timely and accurate
information about potential hazards.
The use of ICTs for disaster risk reduction is still in its early stages in India.
However, there is a growing recognition of the potential of ICTs to improve disaster
preparedness and response.