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MPAT TEMPEST EXPRESS-14Staff Planning WorkshopPhnom Penh, 6 March 2008

DISASTER MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

in CAMBODIA

PEOU SAMYSecretary General, NCDM

Kingdom of CambodiaKingdom of CambodiaNation Religion KingNation Religion King

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I. COUNTRY INFORMATION

A. Government Organization - Country: Kingdom of Cambodia- Organization: National Committee for Disaster

Management (NCDM) chaired by Prime Minister and seconded by 2

senior Ministers as 1st vice & 2nd vice

Royal Government Of CambodiaNational Committee for Disaster

Management

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B. Location of the Country- Between the latitudes of 10 & 15 North and the

longitudes of 102 & 108 East- Area: 181,035 sq.km- Population: 14 million (85.4% in rural areas)- Provinces/Municipalities: 24 (185 districts, 1621

communes)- Bordered: North:North: by Laos

North and West:North and West: by Thailand

East and Southeast:East and Southeast: by Vietnam

South-West:South-West: by Gulf of Siam

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Vietnam

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C.Climate-Temperature-Rainfall

• May-November:Rainy season 27-35oC

• Nov-February: Dry season 17-27oC

• Feb-May: Hot 29-38oC• Rainfall: - East Mountainous areas: 2,000-3000 mm

- South-West Coastal areas: 4,000 mm

- Plain areas: 1,400-1,600 mm

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II- National Committee for Disaster Management

Membership: 19 ministries, institutions chaired by Prime Minister and Seconded by two senior Ministers: HE Nhim Vanda as first vice and HE Ly Thuch as second vice

Mission

To lead the Disaster Management in the Kingdom of Cambodia. 

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A.Roles and Responsibilities

To study, monitor, assess, collect, analyze and manage the disaster risk data and develop the disaster situation report to be submitted to the Royal Government with recommendations in order to issue principles, policy, circulars, declaration and measures undertaken for disaster management; To make request to the Royal Government on the needs and the use of resources, namely funds, fuel, means of mission and human resources for disaster management operation and assisting victims affected by natural and man-made hazards;

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To develop human resources through skill training activities equipped with knowledge for the capacity building of officials in charge of disaster management at the national level in related ministries/ institutions,at provincial/ municipal, district,commune and village level, and make public awareness and education to the people in vulnerable communities about the natural and man-made disaster risk; -To collaborate with government ministries/institutions, UN agencies, IOs, NGOs and donors to implement the national policy of disaster management, including disaster prevention, preparedness & mitigation to strive against natural and man-made hazards;    

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To coordinate with the national agencies, regional and international communities for cooperation in sharing information on disaster situation in order to reduce the negative impact of disasters;

* To coordinate with government ministries/institutions, UN agencies, IOs, NGOs, international communities and local donors in order to seek assistance for the purpose of emergency response and post-disaster rehabilitation.

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Organization of NCDM

NCDM

Cabinet NCDM Gen Secretariat

DM working Group Of Ministries

Audit UnitProvincial

CDM

District CDM

Secretariat PCDM

District Secretariat

Commune CDM

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Organization of the General Secretariat of National Committee of Disaster management

NCDM

NCDM General Secretariat

DeptFinance

Dpt Info & Relat

Dpt Emergen, respon &Rehab

Dpt of Prep & Train

Dpt of SAR

National Emergency Coordination Center ( NECC)

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Rationale

- Every year, Natural Disasters continue to cause serious impact on vulnerable communities, encountering the

development process of the country and retarding the poverty alleviation program.

- Together with climate charge, the threat of AHI has been emerging across the region. In this regard, NCDM has been granted a new mandate to deal with this issue, specially in the field of Pandemic Preparedness and Response.

B.National Strategy on DM and DRR 2008-2012

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Vision- As a leading agency, NCDM needs to build a resilient community to natural disasters in line with HFA on DRR.

Mission

- NCDM is to implement its role of inter-ministerial coordination toward an effective DM system, including disaster Prevention and Mitigation, Preparedness, Response and Rehabilitation.

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Strategy Objective

The Priorities of Strategic Action Plan ( 2008 - 2012 ) are given to 5 objectives :

1. Human Resource Development

2. Develop National Policy on DM and Dissemination

3. Develop the Contingency Plan for Disaster Preparedness and Response

4. Develop the DM Information System

5. Integrating with Effectiveness the CBDRM into Social and Economic Development Plan at all levels.

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III. Major HazardsA. Natural Disasters

1. Floods:- Flash flood (South-West and North-West of

Phnom Penh)- River flood (Provinces along Mekong River and

around Tonle Sap Great Lake)- 25% of plain areas on average is flooded annually

by Mekong River and its tributaries in rainy season- Serious floods: 1961, 1966, 1978, 1984, 1991,

1996 , 2000, 2001

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Table: Comparison of water level at hydrological station Basac Chatomuk

Warning state: 10.50m

Year Max water level (m)

1961 10.98

1966 10.94

2000 11.20

2001 10.70

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Mekong Flood in 2000 and 2001

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Flash Flood situation in North-Eastern provinces( Ratanakiri and Preah Vihear )

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2. Drought:- Impact of El Niño in 1997 and 1998 on

nearly all provinces.- A dry spell of 10-20 days in rainy season

can give rise to extensive drought and damage to paddy field.

- Not sufficient irrigation schemes.- 2004:Lack of rainfall in late rainy

season.Around 10% out of 2 million ha of rice crop were destroyed.

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3. Tropical Storms:- Rare typhoons hit Cambodia, except

one in 1997 (Linda)- Cyclones and tropical storms hit

Cambodia every year causing damage to houses, schools, pagoda across the country.

- Some typhoon influences bring good rainfall to Cambodia

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4. River Bank Erosion:

- Every year river bank erosion occurs in provinces along Mekong river due to the change of water flow direction in combination with human-induced activities

- Sediment in Tonle Sap Great Lake and in down stream areas bordered by Vietnam has caused extension of flood.

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B. Human-made Disasters

1. Fire:• Rare wild land fire occurs in Cambodia• Urban fire frequently occurs in Phnom Penh and

several other big provincial towns• Light construction easily caught fire and road

access to affected sites are too narrow• Fire fighting engines are not sufficient/available in

big cities

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2.Air Crash

• 1996: one military helicopter crashed in the jungle, Northern province of Kompong Thom, 2 killed and 10 injured

• 1997: one Vietnam Airline VN-815 crashed in the rice field outside Phnom Penh International Airport killing 65 passengers and crew

• 2002(1st April):one military helicopter crashed at Military Airport,3 crew killed and 1injured

• 2007: 2Antony Russian- made Aircrafts crashed into the mountain and in the rice field killing 22 passengers and crew.

26Urban fire and plane incident ( 1997 & 2007 )

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IV. Measures Toward Disaster Risks Reduction

• A.Non-Structural Measures- Improvement of legal framework- Improvement of National policy and strategy on DM- Nationwide public awareness of legal framework \\related to Disaster Management- Issue guidelines on emergency response and rehabilitation to be undertaken by relevant government agtencies.

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- Upgrading the E.W. System in close cooperation with MRC, related ministries

- Improvement of DM information system - Strengthening the Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Response System through refresher

training at all levels, Community-Based Disaster Risk Management program and simulation exercise - Public awareness and education on hazard risk

with the participation of community and stakeholders.

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-Exercise-Simulation conducted every year :

.Individual exercise for flood intervention : Navy, Parachutist, Military Police, Body Guard unit

.Combined exercise : All units of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces

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Simulation Exercise

on flood rescue in

ASEAN Region

Level ( ARDEX-06 )

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B. Structural Measures• Adoption of new standard for road, bridge

construction, school buildings, health centers based on flood water level in 2000

• Improving irrigation system, dike, dams, ponds, water channel to protect people, crops from threat of flood and to catch water for supplying rice field.

• Opening water way and bridges along national road No 1 to discharge flood water from upstream.

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Conclusion

• Agreements with other ASEAN countries and in the region are very important and helpful for Cambodia

• Cambodia needs to have support from UN agencies, IOs, NGOs, donors and international communities to Provide assistance in Emergency Response and Post-Disaster rehabilitation

• Capacity and capability of disaster management mechanism need to be strengthened so as to involve in activities with ASEAN member countries and other countries.

• Bilateral and Multilateral Corporation with the US and other Nation over the world in time of crisis are very crucial in terms of Emergency Response and recovery on the basis of mutual assistance

33Thank you for your

attention.