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Disaster Management

 

 (i) Introduction

 

Over the last few years, Cambodia has been devastated by flood and drought. In 2000 flooding resulted in 347 deaths and more than 3.5 million people were affected (NPRS, 2002). In 2002, the National Committee for Disaster Management (NCDM) reported total damage from natural disasters at 33 million US dollars (ECHO, 2002). Natural disasters (flood and drought) most acutely affect poor households. Floods cause homelessness and low production (i.e. rice and fish spawning). This leads to a cycle of debt and poverty. Rice and fish are the staple diet of Cambodia (Ramage, 2003). Flood and drought ensure that vulnerable groups continue to suffer poverty and food insecurity (NPRS, 2002).

 

Flooding of the Mekong River is a recurrent event. The Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC) prioritizes disaster management as one of the major strategies for poverty reduction in Cambodia (NPRS, 2002). Better intervention and a more effective approach will increase environmental sustainability and improve resource management, reducing the vulnerability of Cambodian people who are living on flood plains (ECHO, 2003). Therefore, different disaster management interventions are recommended (ECHO, 2003). In addition to natural disasters, human made problems have had significant impacts on these vulnerable communities.

 

(ii) Key Issues

 

w   Continued lack of disaster-related information dissemination. Some NGOs and the Red Cross have set up early warning systems for floods in some places, with cooperation from the RGC (NCDM). However, the warning system is still limited with unclear roles and responsibilities within the existing structure on the disaster response process.

 

w   Human and financial resources for responding to disasters are still limited. Except for the limited budget of the NCDM for emergency response, the RGC has not made a specific budget allocation in 2005 and 2006 for disaster preparedness/mitigation and capacity building.

 

w   Public participation in disaster risk management is still limited, as disaster risk management concepts have not been integrated into Commune Council development plans and some international agencies and Local NGOs have not integrated disaster risk management concepts into their normal/social development plans.

 

w   Relief distributions have not been accountable and transparent.

 

w   Complaint handling mechanisms were not established widely in disaster response areas.

 

w   Women and children were still at high risk during disasters and their voices were not heard.

 

(iii) Recommendations

 

Development and poverty alleviation initiatives should be encouraged, as they can result in increasing family assets and agricultural productivity. This may be through rehabilitation of infrastructure and emphasizing multiple livelihood components such as managing natural resources and accessing credit.

Recommendations for the RGC:

w   Government should work closely with the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR) to implement the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015.

w   Government should allocate funding for disaster preparedness and mitigation at the grass roots level and integrate it into the sub decree

w   The NCDM should continue to play an effective coordination role in strengthening collaboration between all local disaster management institutions and ministries to carry out agreed upon action plans.

w   There should be a commitment to accountability and transparency among government institutions.

w   The government should integrate a disaster risk management component into Commune Council development plans.

w   NCDM coordination should be strengthened. The RGC should consider placing project management experts in the NCDM, with the aim of creating an effective, pro-active response capacity. Management skills need to be developed in order to better manage meetings, create action plans, and coordinate diverse and geographically separate groups. A common understanding of accountability needs to be incorporated into all emergency response agencies.

Recommendations for the Donors:

w  Funds should be made available to support the disaster management programme in Cambodia through training and strengthened disaster preparedness action plans at village and communes levels where floods, droughts and other disasters may occur.

w  Financial and technical support should be provided to NCDM to improve the quality of disaster management in Cambodia.  

Recommendations for the NGOs:

w  Technical support should be provided to all levels of ministries and local authorities in developing a clear strategy for disaster preparedness, relief, mitigation and rehabilitation with coordination from NCDM.

w  A response plan should be developed for disaster preparedness and mitigation and integrated into the long-term programme strategy.

w  Disaster risk reduction strategy should be integrated into sustainable development policies and work plans.

 

For more information on the issues raised in this paper, please contact:

The Humanitarian Accountability Network in Cambodia:

1. Mr. Phoeuk Sok, Oxfam GB, Tel: 023 720 036, Email: psok@oxfam.org.kh

2. Mr. Mot Sana, World Vision International, Tel: 023 216 052, Email: sana_mot@wvi.org

3. Mr. Tan Bun Leng, Cooncern Cambodia, Tel: 023 214 879, Email: bunleng.tan@concern.net

4. Ms. Chhay Sokhary, CARE Cambodia, Tel: 023215269, Email: sokhary.chhay@care-cambodia.org

5. Mr. Neup Ly, Urban Sector Group, Tel: 023 360 568, Email: admin.usg@forum.org.kh

6. Mr. Kien Vaddanak, Cambodia Red Cross, Tel: 023 212 878, Email: vaddanakkien@yahoo.com

7. Mr. Savun Sam Ol, NAS, Tel: 012 579 048, Email: 012897103@mobitel.com.kh

 

References

(i)      Ramage, I et al, (2003): Final Evaluation Report: Disaster preparedness action planning in Prey Veng. CARE Cambodia Project. Phnom Penh.

(ii)     MoP/Council for Social Development (2002): National Poverty Reduction Strategy 2003-2005. Phnom Penh Kingdom of Cambodia, 20 December 2002.

(iii)     ECHO (2003): CARE, NCDM and WFP 2002 Joint Food Security Assessment. Phnom Penh. ECHO and CARE Cambodia April 2003.

(iv)    HAP International evaluation report (April 2003) by Prudence Lambert Khan on The Humanitarian Accountability Project Field Trial in Cambodia that took place from August 2002 to February 2003.

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