Tropical Storm Nock-ten - Jul 2011

• Despite impressive progress to address poverty and food insecurity, climate-related hazards could threaten these hard-won development gains.

• Typhoon Haiyan, which hit the central part of the country in November 2013, and more recently Typhoon Hagupit are testament to the potentially devastating effects of climate on food security and vulnerable livelihoods.

• Better understanding of climate risks and their impact on household food security is a critical first step for managing and reducing risks.

1. Introduction

1.1 Background

In 2011, the World Reconstruction Conference recommended the development of an international best practice Recovery Framework Guide to assist governments and partner agencies in delivering effective and efficient post-disaster recovery programs. In application, the Disaster Recovery Framework (DRF) Guide is intended to complement the government-led Post-disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) process – an assessment method that presents damages and losses in a consolidated report.

A REVIEW OF THE HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE TO THE 2011 THAILAND AND CAMBODIA FLOODS 

Executive Summary

JOHANNESBURG, 27 November 2012 (IRIN) - Many of the worst natural disasters of 2011 were also the most severe the affected countries had ever experienced, revealed the Global Climate Risk Index (CRI) 2013, which was released in Doha today.

Brazil, Cambodia, El Salvador, Laos and Thailand appear in the CRI’s 10 most-affected countries; all recorded their severest natural hazards-related catastrophes in 2011.

Lao villagers have a special name for the last months of the rainy season, from August to October: Suang Khaad Khao Kin – the time when there is no more rice. While the new harvest is ripening in the fields, food stocks run low. Also called the ‘lean season’, this time is coming to an end for this year, but for close to 40,000 people in Khammuane province, central Laos, it would have been a lot tougher without help from WFP.

VIENTIANE – More than 39,000 people in Khammuane struggling from the long-term impact of tropical storms are now able to bridge the food gap until the next harvest, thanks to a donation of €404,000 (US$502,488) by the European Union's Humanitarian Aid AND Civil Protection department (ECHO) through the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in support of a government-led relief effort.

This reports covers the period 1 January to 31 December 2011

Programme outcome

To coordinate support to host national societies as they scale up their humanitarian work in line with Strategy 2020.

Programme summary

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) Southeast Asia secretariat team based in Bangkok: • Supports and guides country office teams in Cambodia/Lao PDR, Indonesia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Timor-Leste, Thailand, and Viet Nam;

This reports covers the period 1 January to 31 December 2011

Programme outcome

European Commission, Directorate-General for Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection (ECHO) and UN-HABITAT will work in partnership to restore damaged water, sanitation and shelter facilities and promote hygiene education in Sebangfai district in Khammouane province in response to last year's flooding from Typhoon Nock-Ten.

Japan will provide Vietnam with non-refundable assistance worth 600 million JPY (7.2 million USD) to rehabilitate public infrastructure damaged by floods and storms last year in the Mekong delta. An exchange note to this effect was signed in Hanoi on Mar. 21 between Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Cao Duc Phat and Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Tanizaki Yasuaki. Addressing the signing ceremony, Minister Phat highly appreciated Japan’s assistance to Vietnam and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in particular, in overcoming consequences of natural calamities.

Food prices climb for the first time since July

A sixth-month downward slide in food prices came to an end in January as the FAO Food Price Index rose for the first time since July 2011. FAO analysts cited poor weather as the possible main factor. The Index stood at 214, a 4 point or 2 percent increase over December. Nonetheless, food prices were still 7 percent below the levels recorded in January 2011. The increase was propelled by rising prices in every commodities group measured by FAO, with oils and fats recording the largest increases.

In brief

Disaster response - As of 20 December 2011, various natural disasters this year had left 1,081 people dead or missing in China, 440 million people affected and created over 311 billion yuan (approx. 49 billion dollars) in direct economic losses.[1] In the second half of 2011, China was hit mainly by several floods and earthquakes. With the support of IFRC regional delegation, the Red Cross Society of China (RCSC) responded swiftly to the serious disasters with relief items and other assistance needed.

From January to December, nineteen (19) TCs entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), ten (10) of them were destructive namely Tropical Storm (TS) Bebeng (May 8-11); Typhoon Chedeng (May 20-28); TS TS Falcon ( June 21-25) Typhoon Juaning, (July 25-28), Typhoon Kabayan (July 28-Aug 5); Typhoon Mina (Aug 21-29), Typhoon Pedring (Sept 24-28) , Typhoon Quiel (Sept 29 –Oct 2); TD Ramon (Oct 10-14); and Tropical Storm Sendong (Dec 15-18).

DISASTER EVENTS IN ASIA AND THE PACIFIC IN 2011

Asia and the Pacific continues to live up to its reputation as the world’s most natural-disaster-prone region. The International Disaster Database, EM-DAT, reports 89 natural-disaster events in the region in 2011. In terms of the number of events, China (14), Indonesia (6) and the Philippines (22) top the list. However, Japan, the Philippines and Thailand suffered the greatest number of lives lost.

27 Dec 2011 04:35

Dec 27 (Reuters) - From floods that crippled countries, to mega cyclones, huge blizzards, killer tornadoes to famine-inducing droughts, 2011 has been another record-breaker for bad weather.

While it is too early to predict what 2012 will be like, insurers and weather prediction agencies point to a clear trend: the world's weather is becoming more extreme and more costly.

Following are details of major weather disasters for 2011 and some early forecasts for 2012.

BEIJING, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) -- Natural disasters left 1,074 people dead or missing in China over the past nine months, according to a joint statement issued by the Ministry of Civil Affairs (MOCA) and the National Disaster Reduction Commission (NDRC) on Monday.

Between January and September, natural disasters affected 480 million people nationwide, resulting in the evacuation or relocation of 9.12 million people, the statement said.

The disasters also incurred a total of 302.8 billion yuan (47.7 billion U.S. dollars) in direct economic losses.

In 2011, several severe natural disasters had taken place in Thailand, particularly since March onwards. The typical weather in March when the hot season is dominant throughout the country had generally been hot and humid with scarce rainfalls. But in March 2011, a cold snap together with occasional rainfalls occurred in upper Thailand almost the whole month. High-pressure areas extending their ridges from China to cover upper Thailand periodically were found to be the causes of such phenomenon.

More than 6.8 million people displaced and affected in Cambodia, Thailand, Laos and the Philippines; Millions more bracing for impact of typhoon Nalgae

In response to a direct appeal by the Cambodian Senior Minister in charge of Special Mission and Vice President of the National Committee for Disaster Management (NCDM), H.E. Dr Ly Thuch, Mercy Relief (MR) will deploy a five-man disaster response team within the next 36 hours to the affected areas in Cambodia.

30 Sep 2011 04:42

• River surges to 11-year high, over 100 dead

• Vast swathes of rice-growing land swamped

• Flood said to have peaked in Cambodia, may peak in Vietnam soon

HANOI, Sept 30 (Reuters) - More than 100 people in Cambodia and southern Vietnam have died in the worst flooding along the Mekong River in 11 years after heavy rain swamped homes, washed away bridges and forced thousands of people to evacuate.

BANGKOK, 4 September 2011 (NNT)-Department of Drainage and Sewerage Director General Mr. Sanya Cheenimit said Bangkok was not at risk of flooding as the water level in the Chaopraya River remained at the safe level.

He said the amount of rainfall and the flood water from the North were the only concerns at present. To prevent the impact on Bangkok, authorities will keep the situation under surveillance until November.