Introduction

Access to information is important for all aspects of disaster risk reduction and related management activities. This section intends to provide useful data, national platform contacts, disaster statistics, hazard profiles and national reports classified by country, as a contribution to the implementation of the Hyogo Framework for Action, in particular to its paragraph 33f.

This section is being complemented with key information and documents. A first pilot phase, until the end of 2005, is focussing on 2 countries per region, namely Colombia, Indonesia, Japan Mexico, Morocco and South Africa. A second phase, to be developed until mid-2006, will include most affected countries by disaster of natural origin.

At present, country information includes the following:

1. General Profile, developed in collaboration with UNEP-DEWA-GRID-Europe, providing national data, world maps with country identification and national maps with population density and main cities;
2. Official Contacts, Institutional contacts and National Platforms for disaster risk reduction. More information and guiding principles for National Platforms are available in this section under (link to: http://www.unisdr.org/eng/country-inform/ci-guiding-princip.htm).
3. Disaster Profiles, with a set of charts and tables on disaster occurrence by hazard type and their impacts: percentage of killed and affected people and economic losses by country in the last century, based on data from OFDA/CRED. Top 10 natural disasters by country are also highlighted.
4. Hazard Profiles, developed in collaboration with UNEP-DEWA-GRID-Europe, offering the possibility to create on-line maps on natural hazardous events with the following series by hazard: 1) from 1979 to 2000 for earthquakes and tsunami (including the Indian Ocean Tsunami of December 2004); 2) from 1980 to 2004 for volcanic activities, cyclones and floods; 3) from 1980 to 2001 for droughts; and 4) from 1997 to 2003 for wild land fires.
5.  National Reports, giving access to full-text official reports received from countries, and classified by the priorities of the Hyogo Framework. Additional key documents and good practices are being provided for Colombia, Indonesia, Japan Mexico, Morocco and South Africa. This pilot activity will continue to identify good practices by country in cooperation with partner organizations.
   
   

National participation, as the primary ingredient for sub-regional, regional and international cooperation for natural disaster reduction, is critical to carry out disaster risk reduction policies and measures at the national and local scale and to implement the objectives of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR).

The National Committees and Focal Points established during the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction (IDNDR, 1990-1999) proved to be key organizational mechanisms in many countries in expanding the understanding and perception of the importance of disaster risk reduction and in bringing together diverse professional interests committed to the subject of disaster reduction. However, in many countries, there remains a pressing need to revitalize and strengthen these national structures and processes, especially in those countries most affected by natural disasters

The ISDR Secretariat has renewed its efforts to re-establish these contacts. A priority for the coming years is the building of stronger national networks or national platforms drawing from several sectors and disciplines to further improve the implementation of disaster reduction. This is a joint goal shared with other partners, in particular UNDP in support of the work in developing countries, and with many other regional institutions within the ISDR network.

The ISDR Secretariat has produced Guiding Principles: National Platforms for Disaster Risk Reduction (working paper) as a first of a series of documents aimed to guide the creation and development of National Platforms. A National Platform can adopt the form of a national network or a more formal designated body recognized by its government, which could include lead agencies or ministries, research and academic organizations, civil society, private (commercial) sector, NGO’s, media and other UN Agencies.

Should you have comments or questions on the information provided in this section please contact: