1. International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
A presentation for the Second Annual Mekong Flood Forum, presented by:
International Federation of
Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

2. Second Annual Mekong Flood Forum: Lessons from 2002
Presentation Outline
Red Cross / Red Crescent operating mechanisms at the regional level
2002 activities of National Societies at the Lower Mekong Basin
Lessons Learned
Ways Forward
International Federation
of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
International Federation
of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

3. Red Cross / Red Crescent operating mechanisms at the regional level
Second Annual Mekong Flood Forum: Lessons from 2002
Red Cross / Red Crescent operating mechanisms at the regional level
National Societies
Country Delegations
Regional Delegation
Regional Disaster Management Committee
Regional Disaster Response Team
International Federation
of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

4. Activities in 2002 Disaster Preparedness
Second Annual Mekong Flood Forum: Lessons from 2002
Activities in 2002
Capacity building for National Societies
Staff training
Stockpiling of supplies
Procurement of telecommunications and information Technology equipments
Resource mobilization
Development of strategic disaster management plans
Partnership building and networking
Disaster Preparedness
International Federation
of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

5. Activities in 2002 Disaster Preparedness
Second Annual Mekong Flood Forum: Lessons from 2002
Activities in 2002
2. Capacity building for communities
community organizing
skills training
community livelihood projects
establishment of backyard gardens
providing access to flood information
Disaster Preparedness

6. Activities in 2002 Disaster Preparedness
Second Annual Mekong Flood Forum: Lessons from 2002
Activities in 2002
3. Structural mitigation projects
Establishment of safe areas
Construction of sluice gates
Dike construction and culvert emplacement
Raising homestead grounds
Flood proof tube wells
Raising village dirt roads
Construction of communal latrines
Disaster Preparedness
International Federation
of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

7. Activities in 2002 Disaster Preparedness
Second Annual Mekong Flood Forum: Lessons from 2002
Activities in 2002
4. Non - structural mitigation projects
Mangrove planting
Riverbank establishment
Reforestation
Advocacy
Public awareness
Early warning
Disaster Preparedness
International Federation
of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

8. Activities in 2002 Disaster Response Stockpiling
Second Annual Mekong Flood Forum: Lessons from 2002
Activities in 2002
Stockpiling
Provision of boats for evacuation and rescue
Establishment of Rapid Response Teams
Disaster Management Information System
Disaster Response
International Federation
of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

9. Second Annual Mekong Flood Forum: Lessons from 2002
Lessons Learned
A comprehensive strategic plan for disaster management must be developed by the national societies and integrated into the national disaster management framework.
National societies needed to explore more possibilities for collaboration with other stakeholders operating within the riparian countries on regional policy formulation.
Partnership among national societies and other regional entities must be strengthened through the regional cooperation framework
There is a need to actively advocate at a wider scope the integration of preparedness and response into the development process.
International Federation
of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

10. Second Annual Mekong Flood Forum: Lessons from 2002
Lessons Learned
Tasks and responsibilities between national disaster management committees and the national societies must be well-defined.
Baseline data from hazard prone communities must updated regularly to compliment assessment reports undertaken during emergency situations.
Early warning at the community level must utilize local and traditional practices / methods of relaying warning signals.
Stakeholders at the national level involved in disaster management must use a common standard assessment and reporting template as a move towards a systematic information management.
International Federation
of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

11. Second Annual Mekong Flood Forum: Lessons from 2002
Lessons Learned
Technical and academic terms must be translated into simple laymen language to allow the community to assimilate and easier understanding of global issues which affects them.
HVC assessment process must be analyze from the context of the community, external actors must only facilitate and not influence the process.
Community organizing must be a prerequisite for establishing community structural mitigation projects to ensure community participation in the management and maintenance of these projects.
Work with the community and not for the community.
International Federation
of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

12. Second Annual Mekong Flood Forum: Lessons from 2002
Ways Forward
Work towards self reliance and sustainability of programming.
Improve co-ordination by promoting better co-operation and partnerships among stakeholders.
Ensure that the knowledge from prediction and early warning systems can be accessed, understood and acted upon by local communities
International Federation
of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

13. Second Annual Mekong Flood Forum: Lessons from 2002
Ways Forward
Disaster preparedness as an effective link between emergency response, rehabilitation and development programmes.
Strengthen the organizational structures at national and local levels required for effective disaster risk management.
Forum for developing strategic plans which shall address issues of flood plain management with particular regard to peoples food security and livelihood.
International Federation
of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

14. Second Annual Mekong Flood Forum: Lessons from 2002
Ways Forward
Improve the ability of vulnerable communities to cope with disasters through community-based disaster preparedness strategies that build on existing structures, practices, skills and coping mechanisms.
Respect and utilize indigenous knowledge of the community to enhance appropriateness of community based disaster management programs.
Expand network with NGO’s involved in the sustainable development programs to link disaster risk management activities into the development framework.
International Federation
of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

15. Second Annual Mekong Flood Forum: Lessons from 2002
Thank you.
For further information, please contact the Red Cross National Societies or Federation country delegations.
For regional level consultation, please contact the Federation Regional Disaster Management Unit (RDMU):
Telephone :
International Federation
of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies