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| Sunday, 15 January 2006 |
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Conference
on sustainable hazard reduction plans
by Vimukthi Fernando Government/public sector coordination at senior levels, capacity building at the ground level of public service and strengthening the social capital at grass-roots level were identified as the three main components in a sustainable hazard reduction plan for Sri Lanka on Wednesday. Academics and activists from the region, along with national and international experts formulated recommendations to policy makers during a two-day conference on 'Sustainable Hazard Reduction - Rehabilitation, Reconstruction and Long-term Development' in Colombo. The conference taking a multi-faceted approach, enabled senior officials of the government departments and relevant institutions, university professors and NGO representatives to discourse on disaster management, policy and science and technology. The discussions based on sustainable hazard reduction and management (SHARM) principles, emphasised relief, recovery and reduction (RRR) on a sustainomic framework for hazard management i.e. taking economic, social and environmental impacts of disaster into consideration. The need for macro-economic and fiscal policy to reflect recovery programs; need to think beyond the pre-tsunami development levels; safety nets for the poor and the vulnerable; risk reduction and transfer and dependence on technology were some salient points brought up for dialogue on policy. Under science and technology the use of models; advance warning systems; environment friendly and low-cost housing; role of green belts and clean water resources were discussed while the need for transcending conventional boundaries in communication, coordination and planning was focused in disaster management. The need to integrate counselling with immediate disaster management interventions as well as at mid and long-term levels was emphasised by both scholars and activists. Need for awareness creation at all levels, the feasibility of interventions under clear-cut command/instructions, and the role of the media were also some other points stressed by participants. "The action plan will be prepared and will soon be submitted to the Prime
Minister and officials," said Prof. Mohan Munasinghe, Director, MIND.
"Long-term interventions promoting preparedness, planning and prevention are
the most important aspects of disaster management," he stressed. |
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