Mission to the Philippines: CEDARthree: Crisis Management Specialists
As a result of an initiative by The Philippines' Ambassador to Sweden at the International Disaster and Emergency Resilience (IDER) conference in October 2009, Simon Langdon, chairman of IDER, was invited to take a 'Group of Disaster Management Specialists' to The Philippines to study the impact and response to the typhoons and other major events which frequently cause devastation across the country. The Philippine National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC), under its Executive Officer General Glenn Rabonza, welcomed the initiative and hosted the mission which took place from 29-31 March 2010.
The Philippines is one of the most disaster prone countries in the world sitting on the western fringes of the Pacific Ring of Fire with 20 active volcanoes. Earthquakes and eruptions are therefore quite frequent. The country is also in the typhoon belt and in October 2009, severe flooding and landslides caused by Tropical Storm Ketsana and Typhoon Parma caused more than $30m worth of damage to health facilities alone and affected 8.4m people, with 250,000 being forced to stay in evacuation centres. The need for disaster management preparedness and international support is extreme.
Frequent typhoons cause widespread flooding
The objective of the Mission was to assist The Philippines in improving their disaster preparedness and enhance their national readiness, response and recovery to natural disasters.
The mission was entirely self-funded by the organisations taking part; an indication of their commitment and their view of the importance of the task.
The Philippines has 20 active volcanoes!
The international team of disaster managers who took part in the mission came from the following organisations:
CEDARthree, Red Cross, Swedish Civil Contingencies Secretariat (MSB), Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD), CS&A (Belgium), Health Protection Agency (HPA), Global Foodbanking Networks (United States) and Mott MacDonald
Over a three day period the group were briefed by and held workshops with the NDCC, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). They also visited Marikina City to hear at first hand the impact of the 23 metre flood that swamped the city's streets and buildings last September.
The outcome of the mission will be to produce a report and practical advice for the development of the Philippine's overall resilience to disasters however they might be caused. It is envisaged that this will lead to a programme of focused support and aid.
For further information on the mission and its outcomes please contact us.
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