In 2008 World Vision developed the Asia-Pacific Disaster Monitor and Planet Prepare, the Asia - Pacific Disaster Report which provides insights and information on the impacts of climate change towards vulnerable communities across Asia-Pacific Region. Presenting stories from the communities living in disaster prone areas, and case studies on how past disasters including the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami and 2008 Cyclone Nargis impacted the communities, Planet Prepare also offers ideas on how communities can be better prepared. The case studies and facts are presented in dynamic, mind-provoking structures, helping any readers to see the relations and dynamics between various elements in disaster prevention.
What impresses me is that back on those days, Planet Prepare already talked about the danger of storm surge from the experiences of Nargis. Further it also discussed increasing possibilities of cyclone occurrence and weather-related disasters. As I reread the report today, I could not help but recalling the 2013 typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines and the impacts of the storm surge.
Planet Prepare alarms development agencies, governments, and donors to urgently shift the emphasis of development practice from disaster response to disaster preparedness, including vulnerability analysis, risk reduction and the build-up of capacity and resilience at grassroots community level.
I was privileged to meet and discuss with Johannes Luetz, the Lead Author of Planet Prepare, who interviewed me and my colleagues in UNDP's DRR project in Aceh, Indonesia, as he gathered the information on how we introduced disaster risk reduction (DRR) through education programs for school children. Our discussion results are incorporated in the section that discusses disaster education for children on page 86-87.
Even until this year (2014), I Planet Prepare remains a relevant, valuable resource for those who would like to learn more about DRR and climate change issues in the region.
Below are the links to download the publications:
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