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

6Living with Risk: A global review of disaster reduction initiativesThe UNEP Awareness and Preparedness forEmergencies at a Local Level (APELL), basedat the Industry and Environment Office inParis, is a programme serving as a tool fordisaster prevention and preparedness and raisespublic awareness of the need to reduce environmentalemergencies and damage. It seeks tominimize, particularly in developing countries,the occurrence and harmful effects of technologicalaccidents and emergencies resultingfrom human activity or as the consequence ofnatural disasters.Web site:ww.uneptie.org/pc/apell/disasters/disasters.htmlWorld Food Programme (WFP)WFP is mandated by the United Nations tocombat global hunger. Based in Rome, Italy,the Programme counts 85 country offices andeight regional offices to assist populations inneed. As the food-aid arm of the UnitedNations, WFP meets emergency needs,provides the necessary logistics to deliver foodand supports economic and social developmentby promoting policies, strategies and operationsfor the benefit of the poor and hungry.WFP has been a member of the ISDR Inter-Agency Task Force on Disaster Reductionsince its inception in 2000.In 1999 the WFP key strategy document entitledEnabling Development identified disastermitigation as one of the five priority areas ofaction with a focus on reduction of the impactof natural hazards on food security for vulnerablepopulations. A steering committee for disastermitigation was established to assist countryand regional offices to integrate disaster mitigationactivities into their developmentprogrammes. The WFP dual mandate fordevelopment and emergencies results in developmentactivities designed to facilitate potentialemergency response. Guidelines on disastermitigation have been prepared and field-testedin pilot country offices. The formalization ofthe WFP role in disaster mitigation is reflectedin the new generation of programming documents.In 2000 already nine of the 11 CountryStrategy Outlines and Country Programmesthat were approved by the Executive Board hadincluded disaster mitigation activities. Forexample, WFP is supporting water harvestingin Sudan to decrease the impact of drought onrural livelihoods. In Tanzania, the WFP CountryProgramme is using food-for-work activitiesto create assets, such as grain stores and accessroads, in order to improve long-term food securityand decrease the vulnerability of householdsto drought.The WFP emphasis on early warning andcontingency planning includes collaborationwith the Framework Team based in New Yorkand the WFP Vulnerability and AnalysisMapping Unit (VAM). The Office of theHumanitarian Adviser (OHA) is responsiblefor coordinating the overall contingency planningprocess, while the Augmented LogisticsIntervention Team for Emergencies (ALITE)collates specific logistics-based contingencyplanning information such as logistics capacityassessments (LCAs).WFPVia C.G. Viola 68Parco dei Medici00148 Rome, ItalyTel: (+39-06) 65131Fax: (+39-06) 6513 2840E-mail: wfpinfo@wfp.orgWeb site: www.wfp.orgUnited Nations Children's Fund(UNICEF)UNICEF headquarters are based in NewYork. UNICEF has regional offices and countryoffices in 162 countries and territoriesaround the world. The UNICEF mandate toprotect and improve the well-being of the mostvulnerable groups, children and women,anywhere in the world, by definition, includesthe aspect of disaster preparedness and prevention.By supporting empowerment of communitiesat the local level and capacity-building atthe national level, UNICEF programmesenhance abilities to deal with disasters and tomitigate the negative effects of disasters. Policyand procedural guidelines for UNICEFstaff in emergencies include both emergencyresponse and preparedness/prevention activities.310