A ripple in development - Norad

4. Reduction of risks fromnatural hazards and conflictThematic scope: This theme focuses on risk reduction efforts as part of theLRRD initiatives, and how such initiatives have been exercised at differentlevels: national , regional, local and household . Guidance regardingrelevant indicators may be sought from the work related to the implementationof the Hyogo Framework for Action.4.1 Change in risks from future disastersHow have the preceding three sets of factors [initiatives at household and local , regional,and national level] increased or reduced the risks of future natural disasters orconfl icts ?Clearly there is work at the national and regional level on institutionsand on initiatives such as the Tsunami Early Warning System. Therehave also been public education programmes on tsunami risk that reachdown to the community and school level (Sopaheluwakan, 2006). Theregion is now much better prepared for tsunamis than ever before.The development of national disaster management institutions hasthe potential to contribute to reduced risks . However, there is little in thedocument set that suggests that risk awareness has been adopted acrossthe board. Certainly there are projects to address risk (such as Red Crosstraining on Earthquake and other risks) but some of these are well establishedsuch as the Indonesian Red Cross work on disaster risk reductionin schools that have been running for 20 years (Mukhier, 2007, p. 10).In the Maldives , sea level rise was identified a risk with both highprobability and a high impact (Krovvidi et al., 2006, p. 16). However,this risk is controlled by other countries rather than by the Maldives.There was relatively little in the literature addressing vulnerability tonatural disasters other than in the most generic way.35