World Disasters Report 2010 - International Federation of Red Cross ...

CHAPTER 7
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reduction systems that were multi-sectoral and inter-institutional. In each country,
a national commission for risk management and disaster prevention was set up. For
instance, in Nicaragua, the Sistema Nacional para la Prevención, Mitigación y Atención
de Desastres (national system for disaster prevention, mitigation and response,
now known as SINAPRED) was created in 2000 to work with local governments
to strengthen the country’s institutional capacity for disaster preparedness and management,
integrating disaster mitigation and risk reduction into local development
processes. Local governments are responsible for activities related to prevention,
mitigation, preparation, response, rehabilitation and reconstruction within their
territories, based on risk assessments. Several municipalities have incorporated
preventive planning especially in regard to approving building licences and land
use, and different sectors including health, education and planning share disaster
risk information. The system operates with a national disaster fund. Most of these
national systems are, however, relatively new and need time to consolidate. Another
concern is that local governments may be allocated responsibilities for which they
lack the capacity and resources.
Addressing the limits in disaster risk reduction
by municipal and city governments
While local government engagement is essential for disaster risk reduction, many
disaster risks need coordinated action across a range of local governments. For instance,
many large cities are composed of different municipalities (local governments) and disaster
risks are often concentrated in particular municipalities. For example, São Paulo
is made up of a central city with about 11 million inhabitants and 38 separate municipalities,
while Buenos Aires consists of a central city of some 3 million inhabitants and
26 municipalities. The municipalities with the highest disaster risks are often among
the weakest financially and have the largest concentrations of low-income groups living
in informal settlements. They therefore have the largest deficits in provision for the
infrastructure and services that underpin risk reduction.
Most flood problems in urban areas require a river basin management approach but for
large cities, this can require investments and coordination among many different local
government units – often including local governments controlled by opposing political
parties. Or extreme weather events can simply overwhelm the capacity of a local
government or require actions outside its boundaries and competence.
In December 2009, several small and medium-sized cities in Argentina, including
Salto, Pergamino, Arrecifes, Carmen de Areco and San Antonio de Areco, were flooded
after torrential rains led to local rivers overflowing their banks. San Antonio de Areco,
a town of more than 21,000 inhabitants, was hit particularly hard and 3,000 people
had to be evacuated. The city government could not address the causes of the flooding.
In part this was linked to rainfall in the whole region being greater than normal,