A global review of disaster reduction initiatives - Welcome to the ...

4Living with Risk: A global review of disaster reduction initiativesSasakawa Award Winners - 2000Laureate: The Fondo para la Reconstruccion y el Desarrollo Social del Eje Cafetero,Manizales, ColombiaIn recognition of its major achievements in disaster preventionin the Coffee region following the severe earthquake of 1999,by integrating basic elements of prevention such as land-useplanning, hazard mapping, respect for seismic-resistant buildingcodes into long-term reconstruction and rehabilitation programs.FOREC has contributed significantly to the sustainabledevelopment of the coffee region by restoring communicationslinks and economic infrastructure, by promoting civilsociety and the involvement of local communities in the decision-makingprocess and implementing decision-making at thelocal level.Certificates of Distinction:Dr. Roberto Aguiar Falconi, Center of Scientific Research, Army Polytechnic School, Quito, EcuadorFor his high-level experience and expertise in the prevention of seismic hazards disaster prevention and his contribution toscientific research in this domain.National Disaster Prevention and Preparedness Commission, Addis Ababa, EthiopiaFor efforts in addressing the root causes of disasters and communities' vulnerability to disasters, and the Commission's inclusionof disaster prevention activities in the development process.The Central Committee for Flood and Storm Control, Hanoi, VietnamFor its significant efforts in the field of disaster prevention, despite scarce national resources and limited capacities, in particularfor its implementation of flood control programs and flood early-warning systems, awareness-raising initiatives andtraining activities carried out at the national level.Certificates of Merit:General Directorate of Civil Protection, Governorate of Grand Alger, Algiers, AlgeriaFor efforts in introducing elements of prevention in rescue programs, in particular the sustained efforts in carrying out trainingactivities for disaster prevention including participation and organization of international forums on the subject.National Directorate General for Disaster Management, Budapest, HungaryFor its significant experience in the field of disaster preparedness, in particular in information sharing, initiatives in the fieldof flood control and the prevention of water contamination as preventative measures contributing to sustainable development.paredness, participants came from many differentbusiness sectors to learn about topics suchas establishing a planning team for risk reductionand conducting vulnerability analysis.Case: Costa RicaOn International Day for Disaster Reduction,Costa Rica's National Risk Prevention andEmergency Response Commission (CNE), thecountry's focal point for disaster reduction,organized a community exercise in disasterpreparedness. It involved an evacuation drillbased on the likelihood of a local river floodingand then causing mudslides affecting fourcommunities near the old Costa Rican capitalof Cartago.A massive public awareness campaign aboutearthquakes was also launched with media support,supplemented by a poster designed byCNE to inform people about the importance ofpreventive measures that would reduce theimpact of an earthquake. The Inter-institutionalEmergency Commission of the University ofCosta Rica organized a forum on the role of themedia in disseminating information on disasters.In Uruguay, the Ministry of Education'sEmergency and Disaster Commission organ-194