International Forum on Tornado Disaster Risk Reduction for Bangladesh | |||||
- To Cope with Neglected Severe Disasters -
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13-14 December 2009, Dhaka, Bangladesh
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Dhaka Sheraton Hotel (Dec.13)
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& Bangladesh Meteorological Department (Dec.14)
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Co-Organizers | |||||
Government of the People' Republic of Bangladesh (Disaster Management Bureau, Ministry of Food and Disaster Management; Meteorological Department, Ministry of Defence) | |||||
Tokyo Polytechnic University Global COE Program (TPU/GCOE) | |||||
Bangladesh Disaster Preparedness Cetner (BDPC) | |||||
International Association for Wind Engineering (IAWE) | |||||
In cooperation with | |||||
Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) | |||||
nited Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and Pacific (UNESCAP) | |||||
nited Nations Secretariat of International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR) | |||||
World Meteorological Organization (WMO) | |||||
SEEDS | |||||
SAARC Meteorological Research Centre (SMRC) | |||||
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) | |||||
Asian Disaster Reduction Center (ADRC) | |||||
Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (BDRCS) | |||||
Venue | |||||
Dhaka Sheraton Hotel (Dec. 13) and Bangladesh Meteorological Department (Dec. 14) | |||||
Objectives | |||||
The main objectives of the forum are to understand severe local storm disaster risks in Bangladesh , raise awareness of the risks at local, national, and international levels, and develop a strategy to reduce the risks through active interactions among renowned international experts, national and local experts, and local practitioners and decision makers. The strategy includes components of early warning system, risk and vulnerability assessment, research in meteorology, climatology, and engineering, household and community shelter, public awareness and education, finance and community planning, and governance and policy making. The outcomes of this forum will aid in helping the Government of Bangladesh to adopt policies and development planning to reduce risks from severe local storms. The outcomes will stimulate donor agencies and NGOs to conduct specific projects to reduce the disaster risks. Overall, the forum will contribute to the implementation of the Hyogo Framework for Action. | |||||
Severe Local Storm Disasters in Bangladesh | |||||
It is well-known that Bangladesh is prone to cyclones and floods with large amount of losses. Overshadowed by them, little attention was paid to other serious disasters in the country. Bangladesh is the most vulnerable country to tornadoes and severe thunderstorm related disasters in the world. Tornado statistics alone shows great amounts of damage in Bangladesh in the past few decades. During 1961 -96 local newspapers reported 10,766 tornado deaths. During the thirty five-year period, twenty of 199 tornadoes killed more than 100 people and seven of them killed more than 500 people. In 1996, the Tangail Tornadoes killed 700 people and the Manikganj Tornado in 1989, which might have killed up to 1,170 people, is believed to be the deadliest tornado in the world. If adding losses caused by microbursts and lightnings, the annual number of deaths caused by severe storms in the country may reach 500. Still, there is no severe storm early warning system or preparedness in Bangladesh yet. | |||||
Expected outcomes | |||||
The participants agree to produce a strategy document as a main outcome of the forum. The document will cover seven chapters. Each chapter will provide sufficient information to asses the current knowledge and needs and then to show how to make progress in reducing the risks based on existing knowledge and capacity in Bangladesh with innovated strategy. Suggestions will be made on how new ideas and technology could be adopted in Bangladesh . The document will appeal donor agencies for implementation. It will be published in both English and Bengali. | |||||
Expected participants | |||||
Expected participants are tornado victims, academic institutions, United Nations and international organizations, Government of Bangladesh (at the national and local levels), non-governmental organizations, and donor agencies. The strategy document will be discussed chapter by chapter during the forum and the revised document will be adopted as an outcome of the forum. | |||||
Final Report | |||||
Presentation | |||||
Introductory session | |||||
Session 1: ADRC, UNDP, JICA, DMB | |||||
Session 2: ADRC, CDMP, BDRCS | |||||
Session 3: Kyoto University-1, Kyoto University-2, Dhaka University, SMRC, BMD | |||||
Session 4: Mri, Japan, BMD, CPP | |||||
Session 5: Texas Tech University, Kent State University, Tokyo Polytechnic University, DMB | |||||
Preprints | |||||
Session 1: ADRC, UNDP | |||||
Session 2: ADRC, CDMP, SEEDS, Kent State University | |||||
Session 3: Kyoto University | |||||
Session 4: BMD, CPP | |||||
Session 5: Texas Tech University, Kent State University, Tokyo Polytechnic University | |||||
Format | |||||
The agenda of the forum will be drafted by the Organizing Committee by the end of August 2009. The forum is tentatively scheduled to include 7 business sessions (90-minutes each) and an opening ceremony. The second announcement will have the agenda and it will be posted on the forum website http://www.iawe.org/WRDRR_Bangladesh/. Session 1: Research in Meteorology, Climatology, and Wind Engineering Session 2: Risk Factors, Risk Assessment, and Social Vulnerability Session 3: Early Warning System Session 4: Public Awareness and Education Session 5: Household and Community Storm Shelter Session 6: Finance and Community Planning Session 7: Governance and Policy Making |
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Organizing Committee | |||||
Yukio Tamura (Chairman), International Association for Wind Engineering (IAWE), Tokyo Polytechnic University (TPU) | |||||
Yuichi Ono (Vice-Chairman), United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and Pacific (UNESCAP) | |||||
Md. Farhad Uddin, Bangladesh Disaster Management Bureau (DMB) | |||||
Muhammad Saidur Rahman (Bangladesh Disaster Preparedness Centre (BDPC) | |||||
Taiichi Hayashi, Kyoto University | |||||
Tom Schmidlin, Kent State University | |||||
Hideomi Oi, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) | |||||
Etsuko Tsunozaki, SEEDs Asia | |||||
Atsushi Koresawa, Asian Disaster Reduction Center (ADRC) | |||||
Noburu Uchiyama, Asian Disaster Reduction Center (ADRC) | |||||
Masashi Kiguchi, University of Tokyo | |||||
Kishore Mehta, Texas Tech University (TTU) | |||||
Masahiro Matsui, Tokyo Polytechnic University (TPU) | |||||
Yusuke Yanane, Kyoto University | |||||
Filipe D.F. Lucio, World Meteorological Organization (WMO) (tbc) | |||||
Tokiyoshi Toya, World Meteorological Organization (WMO) | |||||
Yuki Matsuoka, United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR) | |||||
Shuyang Cao, Tongji University | |||||
M. Aminul Islam (UNDP) | |||||
Contact | |||||
Local Contact: | |||||
Mr. Syed Shifat Ahmed |
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IAWE Contact: | |||||
Ms. Kazuko Ando (ando@office.t-kougei.ac.jp) IAWE Secretariat, c/o Global COE Office Tokyo Polytechnic University, 1583, Iiyama, Atsugi, Kanagawa, 243-0297 Japan Tel&Fax +81-46-242-9658 |
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