Villages Recognised As Tsunami Ready by IOC-UNESCO

18 Nov 2024

Villages Recognised As Tsunami Ready by IOC-UNESCO

The Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (IOC-UNESCO) has recognised 24 coastal villages in Odisha as ‘Tsunami Ready’ during the 2nd Global Tsunami Symposium in Indonesia.

Background:

  • About Tsunami: It is a series of waves in a water body caused by the displacement of a large volume of water due to earthquake, volcanic eruptions etc.
  • Indian Ocean Tsunami (2004): Occurred on December 26, 2004, also known as the Aceh Tsunami.
  • Impact: 228,000 lives lost, Over 1.6 million displaced and Economic losses of USD 10 billion.
  • Challenges: 
    • No tsunami warning system for the Indian Ocean.
    • Limited awareness of tsunami risks.
  • Outcome: Led to the establishment of regional tsunami warning systems in vulnerable ocean basins.
  • World Tsunami Awareness Day: It is an annual event held on 5 November to raise awareness about tsunami risks and emphasises preparedness and early warning systems.

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About the Tsunami Ready Villages

  • Tsunami Ready Villages are coastal communities/villages recognised under the UNESCO-IOC Tsunami Ready Recognition Programme (TRRP) for their preparedness to respond effectively to tsunami threats.
  • Activities Conducted in these Tsunami Ready Villages:
    • Training of stakeholders.
    • Community awareness programs.
    • Development of tsunami management plans.
    • Identification of evacuation routes.
    • Mock drills for readiness.
  • Recently Recognized Villages: The villages are located across six coastal districts of Balasore, Bhadrak, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, and Ganjam.
  • Renewal Of Tsunami Ready Recognition Certificates: Certificates for two villages, Noliasahi (Jagatsinghpur) and Venkatraipur (Ganjam), initially recognized in 2020, were renewed.
  • Verification Process Inspection:
    • Conducted by the National Tsunami Ready Recognition Board (NTRB).
      • The NTRB is composed of scientists from the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) and officers from National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).
      • NTRB is responsible for reviewing and approving the Tsunami Ready Application.
    • Criteria: Evaluation based on 12 specific indicators.

  • Indian National Center for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) is an autonomous organisation under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, located in Hyderabad. 
  • The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), headed by the Prime Minister of India, is the apex body for Disaster Management in India.

    • Recommendation: After verification, NTRB recommended recognition to IOC-UNESCO for recognising the communities of these 26 coastal villages of Odisha as Tsunami Ready Communities.
  • Future Plans
    • Tsunami-Prone Villages:
      • The Odisha government identified 381 villages as vulnerable.
      • Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA) aims to make all these communities ‘Tsunami Ready’.

About IOC-UNESCO and Tsunami Ready Recognition Programme (TRRP)

  • The Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (IOC/UNESCO) promotes international cooperation in marine sciences to improve management of the ocean, coasts and marine resources. 
  • The IOC is in charge of coordinating the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development 2021-2030, the “Ocean Decade”.
  • UNESCO-IOC Tsunami Ready Recognition Programme (TRRP): The TRRP enhances community preparedness for tsunamis through education, training, and response planning.
    • Communities are evaluated by IOC-UNESCO on 12 specific indicators.

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About 2nd UNESCO-IOC Global Tsunami Symposium

  • Theme: “Two Decades After 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami: Reflection and the Way Forward.”
  • Dates: Held from November 11–14, 2024.
  • Location: Banda Aceh, Indonesia.
  • Organisers: Hosted by the Government of Indonesia through BMKG (Agency of Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics).
    • Collaboration with UNESCO-IOC Tsunami Resilience Section and IUGG Joint Tsunami Commission.
  • Symposium Goals: 
    • Review Regional Contributions: Review contributions to the UN Ocean Decade Tsunami Programme (ODTP).
      • ODTP an effort to bolster the global tsunami warning system by reducing response times and enhancing community readiness
    • Alignment with UN Goals: Support the objectives of the UN Ocean Decade Tsunami Programme (ODTP) under the “Safe Ocean” outcome of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development by 2030.
      • More accurate and timely tsunami warnings;
      • 100% at-risk communities prepared and resilient to the tsunami threat. 

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UDAAN PRELIMS WALLAH
Comprehensive coverage with a concise format
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Designed as per recent trends of Prelims questions
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