Disaster Management in Sri Lanka & Disaster Management in Sri Lanka & Initiatives for Risk ReductionInitiatives for Risk Reduction

NimalNimal HettiarachchiHettiarachchiDirectorDirector

National Disaster Management CentreNational Disaster Management CentreMinistry of Disaster Relief ServicesMinistry of Disaster Relief Services

Sri Lanka Sri Lanka

OBSERVATIONS AND FINDINGS ON DISASTER OBSERVATIONS AND FINDINGS ON DISASTER MANAGEMENT IN SRI LANKAMANAGEMENT IN SRI LANKA

FLOODS, DROUGHTS, CYCLONES, LANDSLIDES AND COASTAL EROSIONS ARE FLOODS, DROUGHTS, CYCLONES, LANDSLIDES AND COASTAL EROSIONS ARE FREQUENT OCCURRENCESFREQUENT OCCURRENCESINDIAN OCEAN TSUNAMI STRUCK TO SRI LANKA, CAUSING SEVERE DAMAGEINDIAN OCEAN TSUNAMI STRUCK TO SRI LANKA, CAUSING SEVERE DAMAGES S TO THE COUNTRY BUT IT IS RARE EVENT TO THE COUNTRY BUT IT IS RARE EVENT NATURAL DISASTERS HAVE CAUSED IMMENSE DAMAGE TO THE SOCIETYNATURAL DISASTERS HAVE CAUSED IMMENSE DAMAGE TO THE SOCIETYHUMAN MADE DISASTERS IN PARTICULAR HAVE CLAIMED MORE THAN 64,000HUMAN MADE DISASTERS IN PARTICULAR HAVE CLAIMED MORE THAN 64,000LIVES AND HAS DESTROYED ECONOMY, SOCIETY AND ENVIRONMENTLIVES AND HAS DESTROYED ECONOMY, SOCIETY AND ENVIRONMENTIN THE LAST 10 YEAR PERIOD IN THE LAST 10 YEAR PERIOD

34 MAJOR DISASTER EVENTS34 MAJOR DISASTER EVENTS31,545 PEOPLE WERE KILLED31,545 PEOPLE WERE KILLED28.9 MILLION PEOPLE WERE AFFECTED28.9 MILLION PEOPLE WERE AFFECTEDTOTAL ECONOMIC LOSSES WERE US$ 5.96 BILLIONTOTAL ECONOMIC LOSSES WERE US$ 5.96 BILLION

IN 2003, 137,221 FAMILIES (720,500 PERSONS) HAVE BEEN AFFECTEDIN 2003, 137,221 FAMILIES (720,500 PERSONS) HAVE BEEN AFFECTED, 252 , 252 PEOPLE WERE KILLED AND 37,227 HOUSES WERE DAMAGEDPEOPLE WERE KILLED AND 37,227 HOUSES WERE DAMAGEDTHE GOVT. ALLOCATED Rs. 1740.15 MILLION FOR RELIEF AND THE GOVT. ALLOCATED Rs. 1740.15 MILLION FOR RELIEF AND REHABILITATION ASSISTANCEREHABILITATION ASSISTANCETOTAL ESTIMATED ECONOMIC LOSSES WERE Rs. 7000 MILLIONTOTAL ESTIMATED ECONOMIC LOSSES WERE Rs. 7000 MILLIONIn 2004, 260,967 FAMILIES (1.3 million) HAVE BEEN AFFECTED, 31,2In 2004, 260,967 FAMILIES (1.3 million) HAVE BEEN AFFECTED, 31,225 HAVE 25 HAVE BEEN KILLED AND THE MISSING PEOPLE ARE AROUND 4,100 108,467 HOUBEEN KILLED AND THE MISSING PEOPLE ARE AROUND 4,100 108,467 HOUSES SES HAVE BEEN DAMAGED.HAVE BEEN DAMAGED.TOTAL ESTIMATED ECONOMIC LOSS FOR TSUNAMI IS AROUND US$ 3.6 BILLTOTAL ESTIMATED ECONOMIC LOSS FOR TSUNAMI IS AROUND US$ 3.6 BILLIONS.IONS.

THE COUNTRY HAS BEEN APPOINTING SEVERAL THE COUNTRY HAS BEEN APPOINTING SEVERAL COMMITTEES TO DESIGN AN ACT AND A NATIONAL COMMITTEES TO DESIGN AN ACT AND A NATIONAL PLAN SINCE 1992PLAN SINCE 1992A NATIONAL DISASTER MANAGEMENT CENTER WAS A NATIONAL DISASTER MANAGEMENT CENTER WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1996 ACCORDING TO CABINET ESTABLISHED IN 1996 ACCORDING TO CABINET DECISION No.94/1412/120/102 ON 05 JULY 1995DECISION No.94/1412/120/102 ON 05 JULY 1995ALSO,NDMC WAS ALLOCATED FUNTIONS ON ALSO,NDMC WAS ALLOCATED FUNTIONS ON DISASTER MANAGEMENT IN THE GAZTTE OF DISASTER MANAGEMENT IN THE GAZTTE OF NO.1015/12, DATED on 18 FEB. 1998 ISSUED BY NO.1015/12, DATED on 18 FEB. 1998 ISSUED BY PRESIDENT PRESIDENT NDMC IS HANDLING PRE AND POST DISASTER NDMC IS HANDLING PRE AND POST DISASTER ACTIVITIES IN THE COUNTRYACTIVITIES IN THE COUNTRYTHE DISASTER MANAGEMENT BILL AND NATIONAL THE DISASTER MANAGEMENT BILL AND NATIONAL PLAN WERE PREPARED BY NDMCPLAN WERE PREPARED BY NDMCIN MARCH 2005, THE BILL WAS PASSED BY THE IN MARCH 2005, THE BILL WAS PASSED BY THE PARLIAMENT AND WILL BE ACTIVATED ONCE THE PARLIAMENT AND WILL BE ACTIVATED ONCE THE FORMALITIES ARE COMPLETED FORMALITIES ARE COMPLETED

BackgroundBackgroundDisaster Management FunctionDisaster Management Function

Before 1977 Dept. of Social ServicesBefore 1977 Dept. of Social Services1977 1977 –– 1988 Ministry of Social Services/Dept. of Social Se1988 Ministry of Social Services/Dept. of Social Servicesrvices1989 1989 –– 1994 Ministry of Rehabilitation, Reconstruction and Socia1994 Ministry of Rehabilitation, Reconstruction and Social l Welfare Welfare 1994 1994 –– 1995 Ministry of Health & Social Services1995 Ministry of Health & Social Services1995 Ministry of Social Services1995 Ministry of Social Services19961996 National Disaster Management Centre/ Dept. of Social SeNational Disaster Management Centre/ Dept. of Social ServicesrvicesSince 1996, while NDMC has been doing in Disaster management actSince 1996, while NDMC has been doing in Disaster management activities ivities consisting Preparedness, Mitigation, Response and Recovery measuconsisting Preparedness, Mitigation, Response and Recovery measures , the res , the Dept. of Social services is providing relief assistanceDept. of Social services is providing relief assistanceMeanwhile, M/ Rehabilitation and Reconstruction and several otheMeanwhile, M/ Rehabilitation and Reconstruction and several other r organizations have been in assisting to displaced persons due toorganizations have been in assisting to displaced persons due to civil conflictcivil conflictMay., 2005 May., 2005 –– The National Disaster Management Act, No. 13The National Disaster Management Act, No. 13Dec. 2005 Dec. 2005 –– Under gazette No. 1422/22, dated on 08 Dec. 2005 Two Under gazette No. 1422/22, dated on 08 Dec. 2005 Two Ministry were established Ministry were established

SRI LANKA DISASTER SRI LANKA DISASTER MANAGEMENT ACTMANAGEMENT ACT

THE ACT PROVIDESTHE ACT PROVIDESNATIONAL DISASTER MANAGEMENT COUNCIL NATIONAL DISASTER MANAGEMENT COUNCIL DISASTER MANAGEMENT CENTREDISASTER MANAGEMENT CENTRETECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEESTECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEESPREPARATION OF DISASTER MANAGEMENT PREPARATION OF DISASTER MANAGEMENT PLANSPLANSTHE DECLARATION OF A STATE OF DISASTER THE DECLARATION OF A STATE OF DISASTER THE AWARD OF COMPENSATIONTHE AWARD OF COMPENSATION

LEGAL PROVISIONS OF THE BILL LEGAL PROVISIONS OF THE BILL

DIRECT,CODIRECT,CO--ORDINATE AND USE AVAILABLE RESOURCES TO ORDINATE AND USE AVAILABLE RESOURCES TO COUNTER THE EFFECT OF DISASTERS OR TO MITIGATE COUNTER THE EFFECT OF DISASTERS OR TO MITIGATE SUCH DISASTER SUCH DISASTER DIRECT,CODIRECT,CO--ORDINATE AND USE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES ORDINATE AND USE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES IF WHEN THEY NEED TO PREVENT OR MITIGATE IMPACT OF IF WHEN THEY NEED TO PREVENT OR MITIGATE IMPACT OF DISASTERS DISASTERS ISSUE DIRECTIONS AND GUIDANCE TO APPROPRIATE ISSUE DIRECTIONS AND GUIDANCE TO APPROPRIATE ORGANIZATIONS AT THE DISASTERSORGANIZATIONS AT THE DISASTERSEVERY MINISTRY, DEPARTMENT OR OTHER GOVERNMENT EVERY MINISTRY, DEPARTMENT OR OTHER GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION TAKE ALL MEASURES NECESSARY TO ORGANIZATION TAKE ALL MEASURES NECESSARY TO IMPLEMENT DMP PREPARED UNDER THIS ACT.IMPLEMENT DMP PREPARED UNDER THIS ACT.

NATIONAL DISASTER MANAGEMENT NATIONAL DISASTER MANAGEMENT COUNCILCOUNCIL

UMBRELLA ORGANIZATIONUMBRELLA ORGANIZATIONPROVIDE SUBSTANTIAL DIRECTION TO IMPLEMENT DISASTER PROVIDE SUBSTANTIAL DIRECTION TO IMPLEMENT DISASTER MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES IN SRI LANKAMANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES IN SRI LANKATHE COUNCIL WILL BE CHAIRED BY PRESIDENTTHE COUNCIL WILL BE CHAIRED BY PRESIDENTPRIME MINISTER WILL BE VICE PRESIDENTPRIME MINISTER WILL BE VICE PRESIDENTMINISTER OF SOCIAL WELFAREMINISTER OF SOCIAL WELFARETHE MINISTERS OF DEFENSE, FINANCE, HEALTH, LAND & THE MINISTERS OF DEFENSE, FINANCE, HEALTH, LAND & AGRICULTURE, FOREST AND ENVIRONMENT, HOUSING, WATER AGRICULTURE, FOREST AND ENVIRONMENT, HOUSING, WATER RESOURCES, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, HIGHWAYS AND RESOURCES, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, HIGHWAYS AND FISHERIES FISHERIES CHIEF MINISTERS OF THE PROVINCIAL COUNCIL ALSO WILL BE CHIEF MINISTERS OF THE PROVINCIAL COUNCIL ALSO WILL BE MEMBERS OF THE COUNCILMEMBERS OF THE COUNCILFIVE MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT APPOINTED BY SPEAKER IN FIVE MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT APPOINTED BY SPEAKER IN CONSULTATION WITH PARTY LEADERSCONSULTATION WITH PARTY LEADERSSECRETARY TO THE COUNCIL WILL BE APPOINTED BY THE SECRETARY TO THE COUNCIL WILL BE APPOINTED BY THE COUNCILCOUNCIL

Vision of the NDMCVision of the NDMC

““ Safer Communities through Risk Safer Communities through Risk Reduction, ensuring Sustainable Reduction, ensuring Sustainable DevelopmentDevelopment””

MISSION STATEMENT OF THE MISSION STATEMENT OF THE NDMCNDMC

““Protect human life, property and environment Protect human life, property and environment and reduce risks from disasters through and reduce risks from disasters through measures on preparedness, mitigation, measures on preparedness, mitigation, response and recovery, ensuring Sustainable response and recovery, ensuring Sustainable DevelopmentDevelopment””

Objectives of the NDMCObjectives of the NDMCMinimize human suffering, material damage, loss Minimize human suffering, material damage, loss and distress from disasters for providing response and distress from disasters for providing response and recovery activitiesand recovery activitiesContribute to the Sustainable Development of the Contribute to the Sustainable Development of the country through mitigating of Disasterscountry through mitigating of DisastersAchieve Millennium Development Goals (MDG) Achieve Millennium Development Goals (MDG) through Disaster reductionthrough Disaster reductionPromoting and strengthening capacities to coping up Promoting and strengthening capacities to coping up impact of disastersimpact of disastersPromote Community Based Disaster Management, Promote Community Based Disaster Management, ensuring safer Communities at Grass root levelensuring safer Communities at Grass root levelDevelop preparedness Develop preparedness programmesprogrammes, making , making awareness of officials and general publicsawareness of officials and general publicsImplement Vulnerability and Risk reduction Implement Vulnerability and Risk reduction programmesprogrammesAccumulate and Disseminate disaster informationAccumulate and Disseminate disaster information

Functions of the NDMCFunctions of the NDMCDeveloping and implementing Developing and implementing programmesprogrammes to meet the impact of disasters.to meet the impact of disasters.Providing assistance to victims of disastersProviding assistance to victims of disastersMonitoring, coordination and evaluation of the activities of disMonitoring, coordination and evaluation of the activities of disaster response aster response and recovery with relevant authorities and parties concerned.and recovery with relevant authorities and parties concerned.Implementation of Recovery Implementation of Recovery ProgrammesProgrammes to regain livelihood opportunities to regain livelihood opportunities and economic activities of the victims displaced by disasters.and economic activities of the victims displaced by disasters.Contributing to sustainable development Contributing to sustainable development programmesprogrammes in the affected areas in the affected areas through disaster response and recovery.through disaster response and recovery.Awareness Awareness programmesprogrammes for public officers, school children and the general for public officers, school children and the general public on risk and vulnerability reduction. public on risk and vulnerability reduction. Maintaining a Data Bank on disaster management for accumulation Maintaining a Data Bank on disaster management for accumulation and and dissemination of disaster informationdissemination of disaster informationPromotion of community based disaster management Promotion of community based disaster management programmesprogrammesSetting up an emergency operations unit.Setting up an emergency operations unit.

Education & Training Education & Training Activities of the NDMC

Community Based D/M TrainingCommunity Based D/M Training

Providing Disaster Response & Recovery Assistance Providing Disaster Response & Recovery Assistance

Risk & Vulnerability Reduction ProgrammesRisk & Vulnerability Reduction ProgrammesDrought Mitigation & Rehabilitation ProgrammeDrought Mitigation & Rehabilitation ProgrammeObjectivesObjectivesTO UPLIFT LIVING CONDITIONS OF THE LOW INCOME TO UPLIFT LIVING CONDITIONS OF THE LOW INCOME GROUPS BELOW THE SUSTAINABLE LEVEL IN THE AREAS GROUPS BELOW THE SUSTAINABLE LEVEL IN THE AREAS AFFECTED BY DROUGHT AFFECTED BY DROUGHT TO IMPROVE THE BASIC INFRASTRUCTURE FACILITIES TO IMPROVE THE BASIC INFRASTRUCTURE FACILITIES ESPECIALLY CONNECTED WITH AGRICULTURE IN THE ESPECIALLY CONNECTED WITH AGRICULTURE IN THE DROUGHT AFFECTED AREASDROUGHT AFFECTED AREASTO APPRAISE THE AFFECTED PEOPLE OF A COPING UP TO APPRAISE THE AFFECTED PEOPLE OF A COPING UP MECHANISM TO MITIGATE THE IMPACT OF DROUGHT IN MECHANISM TO MITIGATE THE IMPACT OF DROUGHT IN FUTUREFUTURETO CHANGE THE MENTALITY OF DEPENDENCY OF PEOPLE ON TO CHANGE THE MENTALITY OF DEPENDENCY OF PEOPLE ON RELIEF RELIEF CREATE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT THROUGH SELFCREATE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT THROUGH SELF--RELIANCE RELIANCE

PROJECS SELECTED UNDER THE PROJECS SELECTED UNDER THE PROGRAMMEPROGRAMME

RECONSTRUCTION OF SMALL TANKSRECONSTRUCTION OF SMALL TANKS

PROJECTS SELECTEDPROJECTS SELECTED…………REPARING CANALS OF BUNDSREPARING CANALS OF BUNDS

PROJECTS SELECTEDPROJECTS SELECTED…………....CONSTRUCTION OF AGRICULTURAL ROADSCONSTRUCTION OF AGRICULTURAL ROADS

Rain Water PondsRain Water Ponds

Rain Water Harvesting TanksRain Water Harvesting Tanks

Closed System

Open System

Rehabilitation & Reconstruction ProgrammesRehabilitation & Reconstruction Programmes

Awareness ProgrammsAwareness Programms

Disaster Management InformationDisaster Management Information

Disaster Related PublicationsDisaster Related Publications

Disaster Management Plans for Districts

Strengthening Capacity Building Strengthening Capacity Building

International & Regional International & Regional CooperationCooperation

Lessons learnt from previous Lessons learnt from previous Disasters Disasters

Inadequate Inadequate early warningearly warningLack of CoordinationLack of CoordinationNon Non -- availability of institutional framework availability of institutional framework Lack of communicationLack of communication and information systemand information systemNonNon--availability of a availability of a District and Divisional District and Divisional contingency plancontingency planPolitical willPolitical willInadequate risk, vulnerability,damage and Inadequate risk, vulnerability,damage and capacity Assessmentcapacity AssessmentEffective and efficient contribution of officials Effective and efficient contribution of officials International and Local supportInternational and Local support to cope up with to cope up with disasterdisaster

Lessons learntLessons learnt……………………………………

StockpilingStockpiling strategy strategy PsychoPsycho--socialsocial intervention intervention Lack of knowledge and skills of the officials Lack of knowledge and skills of the officials related to related to response and recovery measuresresponse and recovery measuresLack of modern technological support Lack of modern technological support Lack of Lack of public awareness and perceptionpublic awareness and perception of the of the people regarding the disasters people regarding the disasters Unplanned settlementUnplanned settlement

Road Ahead………..

Strengthen capacities of the new Ministry and NDMCStrengthen capacities of the new Ministry and NDMCIdentify role and functions related to Disaster Management of Identify role and functions related to Disaster Management of the new Ministry and NDMCthe new Ministry and NDMCGather all activities, institutes and branches concerned at the Gather all activities, institutes and branches concerned at the umbrella of the ministry in terms of the gazette and budgetaryumbrella of the ministry in terms of the gazette and budgetaryprovisions in 2006provisions in 2006Revise and modify existing circular instructions of the Relief Revise and modify existing circular instructions of the Relief assistance at Disaster assistance at Disaster Prepare and implement Risk Management Prepare and implement Risk Management ProgrammesProgrammes to the to the countrycountryMaking awareness on disasters among Children, General Public Making awareness on disasters among Children, General Public and Officials and Officials Enhance coordination with UN, International Agencies and Enhance coordination with UN, International Agencies and NGOs in the whole process NGOs in the whole process

Road Ahead………..

Prepare the disaster preparedness and action plans to all Prepare the disaster preparedness and action plans to all levelslevels-- GNN, DSS and District levels to mitigate and then GNN, DSS and District levels to mitigate and then respond in an effective and coordinated mannerrespond in an effective and coordinated mannerResearch & Publications Research & Publications -- DisasterDisaster--relatedrelatedDevelop the International cooperation related to Disaster Develop the International cooperation related to Disaster ManagementManagementImplement long term Risk Management, ensuring Implement long term Risk Management, ensuring Sustainable Development Sustainable Development Strengthen coordination among disasterStrengthen coordination among disaster-- related related organizations at the National Levelorganizations at the National Level

Thank youThank you