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andeanstrategy2004 (291.71 Kbytes) | |
Document Date: July 10th, 2004 Author: Comunidad Andina, Secretaria General Pages: 47 pp Title: Estrategia andina para la atención y prevención de desastres. Decisión 591 Collection Title: Emergency Communications | ||
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incendioslac.pdf (845.68 Kbytes) | |
Document Date: 2002 Author: Mark A.Cochrane Pages: 109 pp Title: Se extienden como un reguero de pólvora: incendios en bosques tropicales de América Latina y el Caribe. Prevención, evaluación y alerta temprana Collection Title: Emergency Communications | ||
Related Research Items
| Disasters in Latin America and the Caribbean: regional and national efforts |
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| Written by Sylvia Cadena | |
| Wednesday, 09 February 2005 | |
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Latin America and the Caribbean have been hit in the past. It is a region at risk by floods, droughts, mudslides, earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic activity, tropical fires, epidemics, storms and other natural phenomenae along with other adverse man-made events. Disasters like the earthquakes in Colombia and Mexico, and the hurricanes in Central America have taken the lives of many people and changed the course of history. For many years now, governments, NGOs and international aid organizations have been working towards subregional strategies which cover not only the actions to be taken in case of emergencies (the core of all national systems of disaster mitigation) but take measures to set up a continuous dialog, a common ground to understand more about the nature of the risks, to be prepared, and to react fast and appropriately to protect lives the lives of people and the economies of developing countries. One of the more interesting aspects of the Andean Strategy for the Prevention and Atention of Disasters, is the expression of political commitment and will from each government, to facilitate the regulatory framework which will be required to allow the regional plan to be implemented. :: Andean Strategy for the Prevention and Atention of Disasters During the 13 ordinary meeting of the Andean Council of Foreign Affairs Ministers, held in Quito in July 10th 2004, the Andean Strategy for the Prevention and Atention of Disasters (No. 591) was established. It took almost 4 years of intensive work, and the active participation of 280 organizations and 450 experts coordinated by the national offices of disaster prevention and mitigation. This tool, supported by a regional system, a committee and a plan, seeks for the establishment of common initiatives in the andean subregion based on experiences exchange, networking and cooperation. It has 5 thematic areas: 1) institutional development and local capacities, 2) information, research and development, 3) monitoring and risk evaluation through early warning systems, 4) educational efforts to build a culture of prevention and social participation in case of a disaster, and 5) mutual assistance in case of an emergency. |
