The World Health Organization says countries in the South East Asia have got better equipped in last one decade to fight big natural disasters after Tsunami hit the coasts of this area in 2004.
But it cautions that further steps are needed to build emergency preparedness and response capacities to save more lives in disasters, a press release said on Wednesday.
“The mega disaster of 26 December 2004, when massive tsunami waves hit six countries in the region, causing death, destruction and devastation of unbelievable scale, put the spotlight on the need for being prepared to respond to the most unexpected disaster anywhere, anytime,” says Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Regional Director for WHO South-East Asia Region.
India, Indonesia, Maldives, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Thailand, six out of 11 countries of WHO’s South East Asia Region, were affected by Tsunami that claimed nearly 200 000 lives causing a damage estimated at US Dollar 11 Billion
She says WHO has established the South-East Asia Regional Health Emergency Fund (SEARHEF) for rapid and predictable funding of emergencies. It has also developed a set of Benchmarks for Emergency Preparedness and Response which includes standards, indicators and guided questions to measure what is in place to fight disasters.
Countries are now using the WHO benchmarks for capacity development and assessment for risk management in the health sector, says the release ahead of the 10th anniversary of Tsunami falls on December 26..
India, Indonesia, Maldives, Sri Lanka and Thailand continue to improve systems they set up with knowledge and tools developed through the lessons from the tsunami. Even countries in WHO South-East Asia Region, not affected by the tsunami in 2004, are doing so, using the same knowledge, Dr Poonam says.
WHO has been underscoring the importance of investing in health infrastructure that can withstand hazards and serve people in immediate need; the safety of health facilities and the readiness of health workers who treat those affected by emergencies. Health centres and staff are critical lifelines for vulnerable people in times of disaster.
WHO has also been focusing on measuring preparedness – a sound basis for addressing risk – and identifying and addressing gaps for better emergency preparedness and response. It says disasters in recent years have demonstrated the enhanced response capacities of countries. The massive earthquake in Indonesia on 11 April 2012 experienced a minimal loss due to Tsunami alert that helped government and communities to take appropriate measures quickly.
WHO’s South-East Asia Region groups Bangladesh, Bhutan, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, India, Indonesia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Timor-Leste.
