Photo for illustration (Source: Internet)

(CPV) - The video conference seminar series on “Learning from Mega Disasters”, organized by the Natural Disaster Management Group in East Asia and Pacific of the World Bank, in collaboration with the Global Development Learning Network (GDLN), will take place on April 18, 19 and 23, 2012 at Vietnam Development Information Center, 63 Ly Thai To, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi.

This series is within the collaboration program between the World Bank and the Government of Japan, namely “Learning from Mega Disasters: Program of Knowledge Sharing and Knowledge Exchange” which is aimed at supporting Japan in sharing lessons from disaster risk management (DRM) and reconstruction with the rest of the world.

The objectives of the dialogue are to develop Knowledge Notes (KNs) by collecting data and facts about damage and loss caused by the unprecedented disaster that recently hit Japan; sharing draft KNs with DRM experts around the world for peer review and to discuss the adaptability of the KNs in the context of developing countries by holding GDLN sessions with practitioners and experts, facilitating mutual learning and cooperation in building resilient societies around the world by drawing on Japan’s long experience in dealing with mega disasters.

Session 1 on April 18 will discuss structural measures - addressing experiences and lessons learnt on tsunami dykes; building code; and preparation for cascading effects.

Session 2 on April 19 will discuss non-structural measures - addressing experiences and lessons learnt in community based risk assessment/DRM; early warning and evacuation planning; and local and national planning and the role of urban planning in DRM.

Session 3 on April 23 will address the experiences and lessons learnt on impacts to vulnerable group and gender; and logistics, coordination and communication.

This is aimed at sharing initial findings and lessons from the Great East Japan Earthquake with practitioners throughout the world and exchanging views among experts on how these lessons could be transferred and adapted to developing countries./.