Disaster Risk Management by Communities and Local Governments
Por Christina Bollin, Camilo Cárdenas, Herwig Hahn, Krishna S. Vatsa (06/04, En) Vea también Medio Ambiente
The Natural Disasters Network of the Regional Policy Dialogue analyses the reduction of disaster risk through the exchange of experiences and good practices, an important challenge for the sustainable development of Latin America and the Caribbean. In the last ten years, disasters registered in the region have caused more than 45,000 deaths, 40 million directly affected and damages worth more than U$S 20,000 million. Numerous lower-intensity phenomena that affect isolated locations are not registered, so this overwhelming number is probably considerably lower than the real impact of disasters in the region. Natural disasters not only cause death and destruction in the places where they occur, but they can also damage the country?s economic development and produce significant negative effects in the gross domestic product, balance of payments, debt, fiscal balance and investment indexes.
This study refers to disaster risk management at the local level. The topic was selected by the members of the Natural Disasters Network of the Regional Policy Dialogue, and was presented during its III Meeting, on March 6 and 7, 2003. A decentralized risk management system, where local actors carry out a relevant role, may constitute a very effective way of reducing disasters in the region. Local governments must encourage the population?s awareness of natural disasters, with the purpose of developing a culture of prevention and encouraging their participation in risk management. In this process, a vast spectrum of local actors may be involved, of both the public and private sectors, in order to achieve the purpose of participation.
The study complements the results of the first two meetings of the Network, which dealt with comprehensive risk management and financing mechanisms at the national level. The documents presented at the first two meetings have also been published by the Bank (Paul Freeman et al. 2003. Gestión de Riesgo de Desastres: Sistemas nacionales y estrategias de financiamiento de la reconstrucción. Washington, DC: IDB).
The Natural Disasters Network has maintained a direct relation with Central America?s local governments through the Federation of Municipalities of the Central American Isthmus (?Federación de Municipios del Istmo Centroamericano?). Its President, Patricia Durán de Jager, participated in the III meeting as a commentator, and, in October of 2003, FEMICA organized a conference on risk management at the local level in Antigua, Guatemala, attended by mayors of that sub-region.
We are convinced that this publication will represent an important advancement in achieving a better knowledge of the best practices and benefits that disaster risk management represents for the region. This study will carry out the objectives of the Natural Disasters Network and of the Regional Policy Dialogue, since it fosters the strengthening of local governments, planning, mobilization of financial resources, evaluation and the monitoring of advances in the diminution of disaster risk in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Ultima actualización: 08/05/07
