Thailand and UNDP launch 'initiative' to boost disaster management capacity
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The government and the UN Development Programme (UNDP) on Friday launched a new initiative to boost the capacity of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department (DDPM) to be able to respond to large-scale floods and other natural disasters.
DDPM is the central agency in Thailand responsible for coordinating disaster response and disaster risk reduction.
“This partnership with UNDP is an opportunity to enhance the level of knowledge and the disaster management capacity of Thailand to acceptable international standards,” said DDPM Director General Wiboon Sanguanpong.
“Disaster severity is increasing and is impacting Thailand to a much greater extent. Department staff and the organization as a whole need to learn new knowledge and skills to deal with the increasing complexity.”
The three-year initiative will strengthen the capacity of the DDPM to adapt to disasters when they occur, by boosting the institutional capacity of both the Department and related line ministries to be better prepared to address climate change and environmental security issues.
The $1.2 million initiative’s main goal is to reduce the vulnerability of the millions of people affected in 2011 to future flooding.
In assessing Thailand’s flood response, UNDP and DDPM discovered a number of challenges to the national disaster management system. Few anticipated a flood of that magnitude and existing policies did not have the capacity to assist in a range of rescue and recovery operations.
Further, post-disaster needs assessments could have been better conducted to understand Thailand’s recovery needs.
Further, post-disaster needs assessments could have been better conducted to understand Thailand’s recovery needs.
Thailand ranks as the seventh most flood prone country in the world. By 2030, economic impacts from climate change are projected to place Thailand as the fourth most affected country in the world after the United States, Russia and Japan.
