The HKH Snow Update 2025 highlights a significant decline in seasonal snow across the Hindu Kush Himalaya region, with snow persistence 23.6% below normal — the lowest in 23 years. This trend, now in its third consecutive year, threatens water security for nearly two billion people. All twelve major river …
At a time when the state is busy in electioneering, the flood-prone people of Paglam Circle put up a fight against a possible deluge during the coming rainy season and conducted a social service at Dotung river from March 4 to 23. The service, spearheaded by the Paglam Circle Intellectual …
Thiruvananthapuram: Though not indicated as El Nino effect, soaring temperatures and a likely drop in summer showers could lead to a drought like situation in Kerala, according to Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) officials. A state action plan for disaster preparedness has been chalked out after the state emergency operations centre …
New hybrid forms of climate change adaptation combining local and nonlocal/scientific knowledge are emerging across the Asian Highlands region. Yet, while local adaptive capacity can be based on place-based knowledge that governments often lack, communities still need assistance from states to better adjust to climate change and socioeconomic impacts. Using …
This issue explores the important role played by microinsurance in building up the resilience of communities vulnerable to addressing the impact of disasters and climate change. The content includes: (i) EU’s Work in Phailin; (ii) MIA's Work on Climate Change and Microinsurance in India; (iii) Role of NRSC in Better …
This report presents a series of lessons on good practice and innovative approaches for urban risk management, preparedness and response programmes learnt from Kathmandu Valley case study. The report covers the full disaster (risk) management cycle, including understanding urban risk and complexity, strengthening preparedness and managing the response. It also …
Hundreds of locals living near Mohana River in Kailali are building an embankment along the river banks to prevent flooding in their settlement. They have taken the initiative after the government did not show any interest in combating the natural disaster, which annually inundates their settlement during rainy season. More …
The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) is undertaking multi-state mega mock exercises, covering the eight states of the NE region, on March 10 and 13 next to assess the gap in the earthquake preparedness plans of the region. Disclosing this at a media sensitisation workshop here today, NDMA member T …
Taplejung, Jan. 26: Nepal Red Cross Society, Taplejung has declared the completion of Rapid Rehabilitation and Disaster Risk Reduction Programmes in the district. As a part of developing resilience and mitigating disaster risks, 24 school buildings were strengthened and other 21 new school buildings were constructed, according to the Red …
This paper presents the findings of a study that IIED undertook in partnership with Plan International on urban children’s risk and agency in four large Asian cities: Dhaka (Bangladesh), Kathmandu (Nepal), Manila (the Philippines) and Jakarta (Indonesia). The study involved focus group discussions with street children, working children and squatter …
Japan on Saturday pledged 20 trillion yen ($19.2 billion) in aid to Southeast Asian nations over the next five years to help close the region’s development gap and improve its disaster preparedness. The announcement at a summit meeting with the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations comes as prime minister …
Leaders should recognise and act on dangers facing people living on the margins in urban centres, a report states. World Vision International’s report titled ‘Cities Prepare’, which was launched today, urges leaders to look at disaster preparedness levels across seven Asian cities, including Kathmandu, Kolkata, Chittagong, Bangkok, Jakarta, Davao, and …
Countries that do not have or cannot afford earthquake detection systems may soon have an alternative thanks to a new technology being developed in the United States and discussed last week at the 6th World Science Forum (WSF), in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Developers at the University of Califonia, Berkely …
In this paper we investigate how well residents of the Andaman coast in Phang Nga province, Thailand, are prepared for earthquakes and tsunami. It is hypothesized that formal education can promote disaster preparedness because education enhances individual cognitive and learning skills, as well as access to information. A survey was …
The severe cyclone storm "Phailin" that hit the coast of Odisha on October 12, 2013, brought with it very high speed winds and heavy rainfall that caused extensive damages particularly to houses, standing crops, power and communication infrastructure in the coastal districts of the state. The need to immediately start …
This publication considers disaster risk reduction from an urban perspective, with a focus on the cities of the Asia Pacific region. It focuses on the children of the Asia Pacific region who are living in or moving to large towns and cities, and asks the question: what more needs to …
Disaster risk management (DRM), including disaster risk reduction (DRR), has received increased attention in Pakistan since the 2005 earthquake and the 2010 floods. In particular, development actors have shown a growing interest in community-based disaster risk management (CBDRM). However, little seems to be known about the impact of CBDRM, due …
A new alert system could improve tsunami warnings in the Mediterranean, but most countries bordering the sea still lack evacuation plans, scientists have said ahead of a meeting of 20 countries in Italy this week (19-21 November). The tenth session of the Intergovernmental Coordination Group for the North-Eastern Atlantic, Mediterranean …
This report presents the World Bank Group's experience in climate and disaster resilient development and contends that it is essential to eliminate extreme poverty and achieve shared prosperity by 2030. The report argues for closer collaboration between the climate resilience and disaster risk management communities through the incorporation of climate …
The importance of weather, climate, and water information is rising because of the need to minimize growing economic losses, serve more elaborate societal needs, and help countries adapt to climate change. Weather and Climate Resilience highlights recent World Bank experience and offers guidance on good practices that will help modernization …
The rapid growth in the number of people living in cities and urban landscapes is increasing the world’s susceptibility to natural disasters, according to this new report by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. The report warns that the unprecedented influx of people to urban areas across the developing world is …
