UNDMT initiatives

Background

The Indian sub-continent is prone to various natural disasters, affecting nearly 44.38 million people (1997 Government statistics) annually causing enormous economic loss to the country. Recurring disasters jeopardise development and in turn increase the vulnerability of the poor. The need of the hour is to strategically work towards and emphasize disaster preparedness involving local communities in adopting preventive strategies to reduce the potential loss in social, economic and environment sectors.

UNDMT aims to capitalize on its human resources and experiences during the Super Cyclone ’99 in Orissa, recent Gujarat earthquake ‘01, drought in Rajasthan, response in West Bengal floods of 2000 and accordingly work towards disaster preparedness and mitigation based on the lessons learned. The coordination work of the UN System in any disaster response situation has been guided by the principles of the United Nations Developement Assistance Framework (UNDAF) – creation of synergies, sharing of information and logistical unification. Both, during the relief and later in the rehabilitation phase, emphasis is placed on promoting gender equality and strengthening decentralization.

Drought: is a silent emergency that affects the livelihoods and social fabric of communities. Several States in India have been suffering the effects of drought for the past 2-3 years. Disaster preparedness and disaster mitigation are important issues both at the national level as well as the grass root level. Recognising this, the UN System, besides working on immediate relief, as in Orissa after the 1999 Super Cyclone also concentrates on long term solutions such as community based disaster preparedness and the use of traditional technologies. Water harvesting and ground water recharging are best practices the UN has used to address the problem of drought.

Drought mitigation and relief efforts are going on in Rajasthan, Orissa, and Gujarat. In each of the States drought relief and mititgation efforts are being undertaken based on mapping of vulnerable districts. Nutritional assessments in drought affected States of Orissa, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Chattisgarh, Maharastra, and Madhya Pradesh. UNDMT plans to focus on advocacy programmes at village level to develop traditional systems and community capacity to mitigate recurring droughts.

Orissa: In response to the Super Cyclone’99 in Orissa, the UN Family has been the catalytic input to bring together the State Government of Orissa, local communities, local national and international NGOs, bilateral donors, volunteers as well as other actors to facilitate proper channellization of all humanatarian aid in relief and rehabilitation. The UN family coordinated with the Government, NGOs, aid agencies and bilaterals for synergy and preventing duplication. UN family assisted the Goverment of Orissa:

in community based rehabilitation of "women and children at risk" by setting up Mamta Gruhas
in setting up child labour prevention centre for potential child labour
for agriculture and horticulture rehabilitation in worst hit areas
for food aid for rehabilitation and development
by setting up women self help groups assisted with seed capital for agri activities for restoration of livelihood systems
to facilitate access to information through the UNITeS project

On completion of the relief phase, the focus shifted to coordinating medium term rehabilitation and development activities and UN House thus continues to organise weekly coordination meetings. Activities also involve capacity building for emergency preparedness and response, strengthening the functioning of OSDMA, MIS, MITINFO etc. The UN Information Technology Services (UNITeS), representing a coalition of international high-tech volunteer corps, including Net Corps Canada and Net Corps America has mobilized volunteers on-line and on-site for training on the use and opportunities of information and communication technology, involving a broad range of institutions worldwide (governments, civil society, development agencies, academia and the private sector).

UNDMT is currently focussing on rebuilding lives and livelihoods in Orissa by promoting alternate housing technologies and capacity building for habitat development, Community Based Rainwater Harvesting through livelihood intervention in drought affected villages in Orissa, Rajasthan and Gujarat.

Rajasthan: In Rajasthan, a UN Disaster Management team has been set up to address the ongoing drought situation in the State. UNDMT, Rajasthan is focussing on drought relief and mitigation by involving community participation and mobilisation through the National United Nations Volunteers. They are involved in facilitating food-for-work programs, drought proofing, water harvesting and fodder/ grain / seed banks in collaboration with various agencies.

WestBengal: The UN System sent an assessment mission to West Bengal in Oct 2000 in response to the floods in the region. Specific assessment reports from the mission include Preliminary Assessment Mission, Agriculture and Health. The most important area of intervention identified was need for livelihood sector. On the GoWB’s request, a DMT strategy is being worked on, to enhance GoWB capacity to respond to emergencies.

Maharashtra
Immediately after the earthquake which struck Latur, Maharashtra in September 1993, the UN community responded quickly and offered assistance to the Government to supplement its relief / rescue efforts. A 3- member United Nations Disasater Assessment and Coordination team made on-the-spot assessment of the damage and its repoorts and the meetings convened by the DMT with the international community resulted in contreibnutions and active participation int he relief activities by organizations such as USAID, NORAD, Ford Foundation, CARE, World Bank, Asian Development Bank. Funds pledged from UNDP, UN-DHA and UNICEF along with contributions of some governments were utilized to supply relief materials, food, medicines and water drilling equipment.

The UN System worked in close collaboration with the Relief Commissioner, and the Cabinet Secretary. UNDP funded the participation of an earth-scientist from the Asian Instiute of Technology, Bangkok and three internationally renowned seismologists to advise on the design of a national programme to monitor seismic activitiy in the Indian peninsular.

Keeping in view the concept of the "disaster to development continuum", a project for UNDP assistance to develop a gender sensitive rehabilitation polan for teh State of Maharashtra was approved in Septmenber 1995. The project address issues such as construction of earthquake resistane houses for the vulnerable areas, dissemination of information regarding the techniques used and community participation in the reconstruction / rehabilitaiton progeamme which is being carried out by the State Governement with assistance of the World Bank, ADB and ODA. About 6,000 elected village representatives, including women have been trained under the project. District Disaster Mnagement Plans for all the 31 districts of Maharashtra are being prepared.

National Project

Based on the recommendations of a National Workshop on Disaster Mnagement sponsored by UNDP, Government of India(GoI) and the Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok, GoI established in April 1995 a National Centre for Disaster Management (NCDM) at the Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA), New Delhi. NCDM acts as the nodal agency for training and research in different aspects of disaster management. The NCDM also acts as the nodal training centre to provide assisstance to the State instiutes of Public Administration to train State level government officers and NGOs involved in disaster managememnt activities.

UNDP is working on a project with the GoI to enhance the capabilitites of the Government for disaster mangement. The project aims at strengthening the NCDM to train the governmnet officers and trainers of teh Disaster Management Cells in the State Institutes of Public Administration. During the project NCDM will be developed as a resource centre to produce manuals and guidelines, formulate policy and disaster mangement strategy proposals and to participate in regional natural disaster reduction activities. The project will helpm the Government to have a core group of governmnet officers trained in disaster management capable of formulating policy, strategy, programmes and projects in disaster management.

DMT & Government collaboration

UNDMT has been working in tandem with Government of India’s (GoI) resolve to evolve a National Disaster Management Plan to combat natural disasters. The major goal of the UN mission in India has been to advocate for reduction in vulnerability and engage with the GoI in building capacity for disaster preparedness and management, thus, reducing the incidence of and sustainable recovery and transition from complex emergencies and natural disasters. Following achievements bear a testimony to the UN system’s major support to the Central and State levels:

Policy changes made in the Orissa State agriculture with focus on Early Warning System
Community Based Development Plan of Orissa placed as a model for other States
Creation of positive environment for attracting funds which resulted in the UN system contributions of US$ 30million in response to Orissa Super Cyclone 1999 and over US$ 23 million in reponse to Gujarat earthquake 2001
Partnership with the Secretary to GoI for Reconstruction Management and Monitoring in strengthening capacity for disaster management
Strategic support provided for setting up of State Disaster Mitigation Authority in Orissa
Strategy of the on-going programmes of the UN family to channelize individual resources through the network of NGO partners with strong field presence, trust and credibility among the local communities in the affected areas, in addition to the co-operation of the UN system with the respective local administration.

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