Regional Conference Strategies and Tools for integrating DRR into Development Planning and Financing 16-18 February 2015, Bangkok Country Report - Bhutan
ROYAL GOVERNMENT OF BHUTAN Ministry of Home and Cultural Affairs Department of Disaster Management P.O Box : 1493, Thimphu-11001 Reducing Disaster Risks for a Safe and Happy Bhutan EARTH FIRE WATER AIR
I. Country Profile II. Hazards in Bhutan III. Present Situation IV. Gaps V. Needs VI. Challenges V. Way forward Presentation Outline
Country Profile Total land area: 38,394 sq km Topography: Mountainous terrain (100 metres in the South to 7500 metres in the North) Forest cover: 72 % of the country Total population: 700,000 (approx.) Development philosophy: Gross National Happiness Main economy: Hydropower &Tourism
Hazards in Bhutan Earthquakes Landsides Forest Fires Windstorm Floods Glacier Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) Epidemics, pests and diseases, etc. Chemicals (minimal)
Disaster events during the 10FYP period Disaster Event Year Loss Est. (Nu. million) % of conc. FY outla y Expend. (Nu. million) % of conc. FY outlay Remarks 1 Floods May 2009 766 21.43 321.40 7.743 Percentage of capital 2 Earthquake Sept. 2009 2005 679.67* outlay for 2009-2010 Nu. 12,929.143 million 3 Wamrong Fire Oct. 2010 98.335** 0.51 3.6 (construction of new homes) 4 1 st Chamkhar Oct. 2010 0.179 (relief and recovery 5 fire 2 nd Chamkhar fire Feb. 2011 expenses for Wamrong fire 4.766 (relief and recovery 6 3 rd Chamkhar May 2011 for Chamkhar fires) 7 fire Windstorms 2011 25.4 (Commercial insurance claims paid by RICB Not included as Expenditure) 2869.545
Present Situation DDM established in 2008 Establishment of response capacity (SAR team) at the national and local level. Implementation of CBDRM at the local Government level MRG both at Central and Local Level formed Trained volunteer group (De-Supp) mainly to cater response services during the disasters
- Policies DM Act enacted in 2013 11 th Five Year Plan (July 2013 June 2018) NKRA: Improved disaster resilience and management mainstreamed SKRA - Disaster resilience, preparedness and responsiveness strengthened - Environmental impacts from snow and glacier melt reduced
- Policies For SKRA (KPI -I) a. Response time (no of hours within which emergency response time reaches site of disaster) b. No. of disaster response teams trained and equipped For SKRA (KPI-II) a. Climate Change induced GLOF risk mitigated
Gaps Effective implementation of the DM Act 2013. Proper coordination amongst sectors Lack of capacity both at central and local level although guidelines for preparation of FYP/AWP and Local Development Planning Manual for LGs to facilitate mainstreaming exists No yard stick to measure mainstreaming No budget allocation for DRR activities No NEOC/DEOC to coordinate response
Needs Disaster management being a new discipline and multi sectoral in nature, there is a need to create effective awareness and coordination. Establish NEOC/DEOC for effective response. Disaster Resilient Infrastructure such as road, education /Religious institutions which is priority but negligence would cost many lives Strengthen DRR mainstreaming (trainings of professionals) Allocation of adequate budget for DRR (DRR to be made as one of the criterions for resource allocation)
Challenges Multi-sector coordination-different sectors have different priorities and to coordinate them for DRR is very difficult (often leading to duplication and overlap of efforts). Sustainability in the implementation of DRR program Attitude/mindset of general public on DRR Proper risk sharing mechanism - insurance
Challenges (Cont.) Capacity of Technical agencies (Geological, Hydrological and Metrological departments) to monitor Hazards and weather/climate). Budgetary constraints - DRR seen as cost escalating factor Lack of awareness on the importance of DRR at government, parliamentarians, Business, CSOs etc. Little information/data sharing or partnership within agencies.
Way forward Ensure adequate allocation of resources Human and Financial Sensitization of Policy makers on DRR. Cooperation from local government and communities Establish Proper coordination system amongst key players Political Commitment
Thank You and Tashi Delek!