Download (PDF):Newsletter No.25

Topics Training of Trainers' Workshop in Nepal International Seminar on Integrated Flood and Drought Management (IFDM) & Workshop on IFDM Capacity Building Programme for Pakistan JICA Training on Capacity Development in Disaster Management in Thailand New release of Three IFM Tools Results of Web Survey on APFM/HelpDesk Activities Obituary of Prof. Pasche

Training of Trainers' Workshop on Integrated Approach to Flash Flood and Flood Risk Management in the Himalayas

The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD, based in Kathmandu) in association with WMO (through its Associated Programme on Flood Management) organized an international training of trainers on integrated approach to flash flood and flood risk management in the Himalayan region. This training workshop has been developed as part of a collaborative capacity building programme “Integrated Flood Management for Sustainable Development” for flood-prone countries, river basins, and communities, with the aim of scaling-up action on integrated flood management to contribute to a minimization of losses of life from flooding and to an efficient use of flood plain resources. The training was successfully held from 25 to 29 October 2010 with the participation of both Nepalese and international participants from Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India and Pakistan. The Nepalese participants included representatives of ICIMOD, as well as representatives of Disaster Management Department, Universities and regional NGOs. The training workshop was instrumental in widening the network of experts on IFM in the Hindu Kush Himalayan Countries, while at the same time offering a first opportunity for the development of a strategic plan for the implementation of IFM in the region through national multi-stakeholder workshops in participating countries. The workshop included a series of presentations from the participating countries. These presentations provided an overview on flood management issues (especially flash floods) in the different countries of the region, putting into evidence the need for an integrated approach to flood management, especially involving community participation (both in the planning phase and in the response phase), the media and the health sector (for water supply and sanitation purposes), as often floods are the leading cause for outbreak of infectious diseases linked to pollution of groundwater and wells.

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International Seminar on Integrated Flood and Drought Management (IFDM) & Workshop on IFDM Capacity Building Programme for Pakistan

Planning Commission of Pakistan jointly with Pakistan Water Partnership (PWP) and with support from APFM organized on 11 January 2011 in the Pak Secretariat a seminar titled "Integrated Flood Management and Integrated Drought Management for Pakistan". This seminar was attended by over 120 participants, including high representatives of the Planning Commission of Pakistan, PWP, Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Federal Flood Commission, Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA), Ministry of Security, provincial representatives of the Planning Commission of Pakistan and regional Chief Engineers, as well as NGOs operating in Pakistan and donor agencies, such as Asian Development Bank and USAID. Moreover, in addition to APFM Technical Support Unit staff, Dr Roberto Rudari from CIMA Research Foundation of Italy participated in his function as Support Base Partner to the HelpDesk on IFM. During this seminar consensus was reached on the need to face problems related to floods and droughts in the country, and the need to develop a strategy on Integrated Flood Management (IFM), as well as one on Integrated Drought Management (IDM), at the national level, under the overall coordination of the Planning Commission of Pakistan. As a follow up of the seminar, a workshop was held from 12 to 16 January 2011 in Bhurban to discuss the main objectives of the strategies on IFM and IDM, and to draft two project documents at the national level (PC-I) and two concept notes for potential donors. The workshop was attended by a dozen of participants ranging from Planning Commission of Pakistan, PWP and PMD, as well as APFM and its Support Base Partner. The draft documents produced have identified the various objectives to be covered in the framework of the development of IFM and IDM strategies for Pakistan, including the development of pilot projects on community based approach to flood management. The outcomes of the workshop were then recognized and endorsed by H.E. Nawab Mohammad Aslam Khan Raisani, Chief Minister Balochistan,who supported the findings of the workshop and offered to host the pilot projects in Beluchistan.

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JICA Training on Capacity Development in Disaster Management in Thailand

In the framework of a JICA project on Capacity Development in Disaster Management in Thailand, a presentation on Integrated Flood Management (IFM) was organized on 29 November 2010 in Tokyo, Japan. Twenty (20) high ranking governmental officials from Thailand participated in the IFM lecture. They belong to the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation in Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Education, Royal Irrigation Department, and Thai Meteorological Department. Because the participants were previously not directly involved in flood management activities, it was a new topic to understand the IFM concept and how to adopt IFM in Thailand. The importance of stakeholder involvement in decision making processes of flood management was recognized and the participants were informed how to access the IFM HelpDesk to get further information on IFM. In the discussion, an important issue was raised by an official of the Department of Disaster Prevention, who has been in charge of water resources management. In Thailand, both flood and drought events occur in the same season. Even though an IFM approach is understandable in concept, from water resources management perspectives, it is not possible to keep the water storage level low in a reservoir. If the forecasted flood event does not occur, drought issues will become significant. It was understood in the discussion that this controversial situation has been making it difficult for flood managers and water resources managers to coordinate with each other in Thailand. The lecturer pointed out that under these circumstances flood and drought management has to be approached in an integrated manner. The participants agreed on the necessity for joint coordination on both flood and drought management issues.

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New release of Three IFM tools

IFM Tools are guidance materials aimed at covering the specific topics of flood management. This time, the Associated Programme on Flood Management (APFM) published three new Tools, (1) Flood Emergency Planning, (2) Management of Sediment-Related Risks, and (3) IFM as an Adaptation Tool for Climate Change: Case Studies. (1) Flood Emergency Planning This Tool provides basic information on preparation and implementation of flood emergency management, which breaks down into three stages: preparedness, response, and recovery. By reducing exposure to floodingat each stage, flood emergency management contributes to flood risk reduction, which is an important objective of IFM.To this end, flood hazard maps help users understand hazard information through the process of planning, preparing and responding to flood. Emergency exercises (e.g. role-playing drill) also strengthen stakeholders’ capacity to smoothly conduct emergency operation.     (2) Management of Sediment-Related Risks Sediment-related disasters, which are caused by debris flows, slope failures and landslides, have different characteristics from water-related disasters. That is, disaster sites, timing of occurrence, and hazard levels are difficult to predict accurately. This Tool explains practical approaches of identifying debris flows and landslide areasand introducesgood practices of mitigation measures to minimize human loss. For example, disaster prevention maps containing hazard areas, safe refuges and evacuation routesare used to be complementary to flood hazard maps.       (3) IFM as an Adaptation Tool for Climate Change: Case Studies This Tool introduces strategies for climate change adaptation and implementation of the strategies in the context of flood management. Nine case studies are presented from the following countries and a regional organization, namely US, UK, France, Germany, Netherlands, Japan, China, South Korea, and EU. The adaptation strategies are described especially from the point of flood risk assessment. Based on the projected impacts of climate change, each country formulates its own adaptation measures and designates responsible agencies for their implementation.     You can download the above three IFM Tools at: http://www.apfm.info/ifm_tools.htm Because the IFM Tools are considered as living documents, these will be updated from shared experience with users. Please send your comments to apfm@wmo.int.

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Results of Web Survey on APFM/HelpDesk Activities

To improve the APFM/HelpDesk activities and its communication methods through its Newsletter and website, a web survey was conducted in December 2010 targeting the readers of Newsletter. The survey requested readers to give their feedback to these activities with additional explanatory comments and opinions. Moreover, the survey asked them about the interesting articles on the Newsletter and flood management issues of readers’ concern. Although the number of responses was limited, general feedback from the respondentswas sufficiently positive with high evaluation of Newsletter’s frequency, design and contents. Another attention was focused on APFM/HelpDesk websites, also supported by the affirmative message about their sub pages. The survey results also stressed issues that affect APFM users all over the world.For example, there was a common question how sustainable flood prevention measures are carried out in other countries. The user evaluation showed that APFM/HelpDesk activities are significantly important and meaningful to its users. For more information about thesurvey results, please visit: http://www.apfm.info/websurvey_dec2010.htm

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Obituary of Prof. Pasche

Prof. Erik Pasche passed away suddenly and unexpectedly during a mission on November 30, 2010, at the age of 55. After several challenging positions in his career, he joined the Technical University of Hamburg-Harburg (TUHH) in 1998, where he held the positions of Professor of Hydraulic Engineering and Director of the River and Coastal Engineering Institute until his death. Prof. Pasche specialized in hydrodynamic and morphodynamic processes in rivers and coastal zones, and had more than 25 years of numerical and experimental research experience in the fields of flood management, and hydrodynamic and hydrological modeling. He was particularly well known for his work on the development of methods to evaluate flood damages, innovative flood defense techniques, the development of internet-based flood-management and e-learning instruments and decision-support-systems. Passionate about his research and teaching, he was a source of inspiration to those who worked with him. For the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and in particular the Associated Programme on Flood Management he has been over several years a highly valued partner in the promotion of the concept of Integrated Flood Management, development of flood risk mapping and advancement of e-learning practices. His passion for his profession, his personal dedication to work with people in multi-cultural environments and his personal communication skills as well as the integrity of his personality make him irreplaceable for the flood management community. The APFM Team WMO, Geneva