Locations
Two million – that is the number of deaths caused by disaster events in Asia and the Pacific between 1970 and 2022. With an estimated USD 2.7 trillion in economic damages by disasters across the region, Tsunamis rank as the third deadliest and the fourth most economically destructive hazard.
“In Japan, preparedness for tsunamis is part of our culture. From teaching children how to evacuate safely, to preserving historical knowledge about past tsunamis, these practices reflect the lessons learned through centuries of facing disasters. It is these experiences that drive Japan’s commitment to supporting global efforts in disaster preparedness and risk reduction.” - shared Ms. Hideko Hadzialic, Director, UNDP Representation Office in Tokyo during the UNDP Oral Session at the World Bosai Forum 2025.
Ms. Hideko Hadzialic, Director, UNDP Representation Office in Tokyo
Japan’s long-standing commitment to public education and awareness about disasters was evident in the immediate response of citizens during the 2024 Noto Peninsula earthquake. Communities that conducted frequent drills demonstrated quicker and more collaborative evacuations. As one resident noted: "everyone could have died if no training had been conducted regularly; it was not a miracle, the drills paid off.“ This culture of preparedness—shaped by regular drills, designated disaster preparedness days, and integration into school curricula—has played a crucial role in saving lives.
To extend these principles across the Asia-Pacific region, the Government of Japan partnered with UNDP on the regional Tsunami Project. This initiative is transforming tsunami preparedness through education and community-driven action.
As part of the Tsunami Project, the UNDP oral session at the 2025 World Bosai Forum in Japan, brought together experts, policymakers, educators and local community leaders to discuss key achievements and lessons from tsunami evacuation drills and early warning systems.
Featuring first-hand stories, the interactive session focused on insights from school tsunami evacuation drills, demonstrating the role of the STEP-A (Strengthening Tsunami and Earthquake Preparedness Assessment) digital tool in tsunami preparedness.
A Live Demonstration: How STEP-A is Transforming Tsunami Preparedness
The oral session featured a live demonstration of the STEP-A mobile application, which enables schools to assess their tsunami preparedness and has been integrated into InaRISK (Indonesia’s national digital geospatial platform).
As an interactive session, the audience assessed, in real time, the tsunami preparedness of a hypothetical school by using the STEP-A application on their own phones and saw the results of their group efforts.
STEP-A Tsunami Risk Assessment tool in action
In Indonesia, over 200 schools in tsunami-prone areas have participated in the STEP-A initiative, which serves as a vital first step in ensuring that schools are equipped to handle future disasters.
The process involves students, teachers, and school administrators answering a series of questionnaires, which are then compiled to generate an overall preparedness index. In Aceh, one of the regions hit hardest by the 2004 IOT, several schools have actively integrated drills and preparedness assessments into their everyday lives by applying the STEP-A framework.
A key benefit of STEP-A is its role in promoting self-reliance in disaster preparedness. By focusing on self-assessment, schools can identify gaps in their disaster response strategies and develop targeted improvements.
The success of the collaboration between local governments, NGOs, and school communities in implementing the STEP-A initiative in Indonesia highlights its potential as a scalable model for other tsunami-prone regions across the Asia-Pacific region.
The World Bosai Forum was a reminder that technology, education, and community action together can save lives—but only if the momentum continues.
From Strategy to Action: Milestones of the Tsunami Project
Since 2017, UNDP and the Government of Japan, through the regional Tsunami Project, have worked to expand Japan’s tsunami preparedness principles across Asia-Pacific.
By engaging with students, teachers, officials, and community members, the project fosters a culture of preparedness, empowering children with the knowledge and skills to respond effectively in disaster emergencies.
The project helps schools, communities, and governments conduct regular drills, improve evacuation planning, and implement tsunami preparedness programs. A total of 220,000 students, teachers, and school administrators from 800 schools across 24 Asia-Pacific countries have participated in tsunami evacuation drills and emergency training response, strengthening their ability to react effectively during a tsunami.
“With support from the Tsunami Project, Tanjung Benoa has become stronger and solid in terms of resilience building, because all stakeholders are working together to build synergies and ensure no one left behind.” - Ms. Luh Sri Sudharmini, Headmaster of a primary school in Bali, Indonesia.
Ms. Luh Sri Sudharmini, Headmaster of a primary school in Bali, Indonesia
Moving forward, UNDP and the Government of Japan aim to equip more schools and communities with life-saving preparedness strategies and grow public awareness, in order to help ensure that students and communities are empowered to reduce their risks and increase their safety in the event of a tsunami.
Governments, educators, and local leaders play a vital role in integrating tsunami preparedness into disaster risk reduction policies and plans, ensuring that future generations are ready when disaster strikes.
For more information on the Tsunami Project, visit our page.
