Students in Bali simulate a tsunami by hidding under a school table

Strengthening School Preparedness for Tsunami in Asia-Pacific

Tsunami Project

Summary

Most countries in the Asia-Pacific region are prone to tsunami. Early warning systems, preparedness plans and awareness campaigns help mitigate the impact of tsunami, which though infrequent, can be potentially devastating. The UNDP-Government of Japan project Partnerships for Strengthening School Tsunami Preparedness in the Asia-Pacific Region has helped schools in 24 countries to prepare or update their tsunami or disaster preparedness plans and test them through safe evacuation drills. 

 

Objectives

Since 2016, the World Tsunami Awareness Day initiated by the Government of Japan is observed on 5th November. The purpose is to raise awareness of the need for tsunami preparedness. In partnership with the Government of Japan, the United Nations Development Programme Bangkok Regional Hub is helping tsunami prone schools in the region to strengthen their tsunami preparedness, based on Japan’s experience.

The project advocates with Governments to institutionalize such preparedness efforts, so that each year every student is aware and prepared on how to respond to a tsunami warning. With the COVID-19 pandemic forcing school closures, the project has expanded to integrating pandemic preparedness into the school preparedness plans and beyond schools to community preparedness.

tsunami

24

project countries in Asia and the Pacific

400

schools have organized tsunami initiatives

200,000

students, teachers and schools administrators trained

Highlights at the Country level

  • Cambodia: Following tsunami evacuation drills, a Training of Trainer module was developed which was adapted and scaled up by Save the Children in Cambodia.
  • Fiji: The National Disaster Management Organisation used a mobile application, the geoBing App, to coordinate and monitor the conduct of multiple drills simultaneously.
  • Indonesia: The Bali Provincial Government’s decree on Disaster Resilience Education calls for high school/universities to mainstream disaster education into intra and extra curriculum.
  • Papua New Guinea: Following tsunami evacuation drills, the Provincial Administrator in Milne Bay Province made a commitment through a circular directing the Provincial Education Office to ensure all schools in Milne Bay Province observe World Tsunami Day.

 

 

Featured

Stories

UNDP Tsunami Story Books

The UNDP ‘Tsunami Story Books’ is a series of illustrated real-life stories from the Asia-Pacific region that aims to help children better understand the magnitude of a tsunami and how to be prepared.

READ
Illustration of young indonesian women and tsunami approaching
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Project Countries

BANGLADESH

UNDP Bangladesh in partnership with the Department of Disaster Management and Primary Education conducted School-Based Tsunami Evacuation Drill at Moheshkhali district.

WATCH
CAMBODIA

In Cambodia and around the world, a safe community starts with a safe school.

READ
INDIA

To strengthen preparedness to tsunami, UNDP & GVMC with support from Govt of Japan trained nearly 7,000 children in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh to be tsunami ready.

watch
INDONESIA

Deputy UN chief praises resilience of Bali students in face of disaster threats. Amina J. Mohammed observed the drill in the Tanjung Benoa school, as part of the GPDRR2022.

read
MALAYSIA

UNDP in Malaysia has trained nearly 1500 students, in Seri Kuala and Kota Kuala Muda, areas hit by the 2004 tsunami.

WATCH
MALDIVES

Investing in school drills builds resilience of an entire island community. Watch the tsunami drills conducted in the Maldives.

watch
MYANMAR

Students in Myanmar have been involved in identifying safe/dangerous points, evacuation routes and safe locations for evacuation.

read
PAKISTAN

The evacuation drills conducted in karachi highlighted the importance of school tsunami preparedness and its effectiveness in saving lives from tsunami.

read
Papua New Guinea

Out of breath after running uphill for 300 meters from her school, Losavati Dugutara, a young student, is confident that she now knows what to do if a tsunami hits in Papua New Guinea.

read
Philippines

Over 100 schools participated in the largest ever simultaneous tsunami drills. The initiative happened in Eastern Samar, bounded by the Philippine sea which is part of the Pacific Ocean.

watch
Sri Lanka

“We didn’t have the basic knowledge of what to do in the case of a disaster even though our school is located along the coastal line” - Read the photo story.

read
Thailand

Persons with disabilities are four times more likely to die in disasters. Read how Thailand ran tsunami drills leaving no one behind.

read
Timor Leste

Over 750 schoolchildren participate in tsunami evacuation trainings in coastal areas of Timor Leste.

read
Viet Nam

More than 6,000 students and teachers are prepared for tsunami in Viet Nam, as a result of the regional UNDP project and campaign.

watch
PACIFIC - FIJI

Fiji's National Disaster Management Office coordinated a tsunami drill for schools located in the Suva tsunami hazard zone in a initive part of the UNDP/Japan Tsunami Project.

WATCH

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Publications

Feel. See. Hear. Run. Toolkit for Tsunami Preparedness

DOWNLOAD
Cover of the Tsunami Guide
Tsunami Evacuation during COVID-19: A Guide for School Administrators

DOWNLOAD
Cover of the Tsunami guide, featuring a student smilling
Regional Guide for Schools to Prepare for Tsunamis

DOWNLOAD
Tsunami Project 2022 Factsheet

DOWNLOAD

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For further information, please contact:

Sooin Bang, Project Manager, Regional Tsunami Project (Phase 4), UNDP Bangkok Regional Hub