The Intergovernmental Coordination Group for the North-eastern Atlantic, Mediterranean, and connected seas Tsunami Early Warning and Mitigation System (ICG/NEAMTWS) introduces new informational products to contribute to the implementation of the Tsunami Ready Recognition Programme in the NEAM Region and ICG/NEAMTWS 2030 Strategy, with a specific focus on Pillar 3 on "Awareness and Response" of an Effective Early Warning and Mitigation System.
The newly introduced products include:
1. “Tsunami Ready Recognition Programme (TRRP)” Brochure: providing a brief overview TRRP in the NEAM region, particularly outlining the 12 indicators to be achieved by communities to become “Tsunami Ready”.
Ms Mami Mizutori, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction and Head of United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNDRR) joined the Government of Tonga in the commemoration of the World Tsunami Awareness Day (WTAD) 2023 (WTAD23) in Nukualofa, Tonga on 20th October 2023.
The WTAD23 event commenced with the unveiling of a newly installed Tsunami Information Board at Apifo’ou College. The Tsunami information board serves to inform the school community and nearby communities on the risk posed by a tsunami threat to their community and provides actionable advice on what needs to be undertaken in preparedness and response to a tsunami threat on their nearby coastline. The installation of the tsunami information board was supported by UNDRR in collaboration with UNESCO/IOC Tsunami Resilience Section and the National Disaster Risk Management Office (NDMRO) of Tonga.
This event was followed by a Tsunami Evacuation Drill Exercise for two schools- Apifo’ou College and `Ahopanilolo Technical Institute. A total of 1500 students and teachers participated including response agencies.
The tsunami inundation and evacuation mapping phase of the UNESCAP-funded project on “Strengthening tsunami early warning in the North-West Indian Ocean region through regional cooperation” was launched on 15 November 2023 via an online webinar. The project involves India, Iran and Pakistan with Oman and United Arab Emirates participating on a self-funded basis. The new phase focuses on capacity building through the development of tsunami inundation and evacuation maps for pilot communities of the North-West Indian Ocean Member States. The project serves as a platform for the UNESCO-IOC Tsunami Ready Recognition Programme and the United Nations initiative of “Early Warning for All” by 2027.
The webinar was jointly organised by UNESCO-IOC’s Secretariat for the Intergovernmental Coordination Group for the Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System (ICG/IOTWMS) and Indian Ocean Tsunami Information Center (IOTIC). Opening remarks were provided by Prof. Dwikorita Karnawati, Chair of the ICG/IOTWMS, Mr Rick Bailey, Heado of UNESCO-IOC's Secretariat for the ICG/IOTWMS, and Ms Temily Baker, Programme Management Officer at United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), with closing remarks provided by Dr. Mohammad Mokhtari, Chair of the ICG/IOTWMS Regional Working Group for the North West Indian Ocean. Around 35 attendees, mostly the from North-West Indian Ocean Member States of India, Iran, Oman, Pakistan, and the United Arab Emirates, attended in the project launch.
Photo: Participants at launch of Phace 2c of the project "Strengthening tsunami early warning in the North-West Indian Ocean region through regional cooperation", 15 November 2023.
To commemorate the World Tsunami Awareness Day 2023, the webinar on Fighting Inequality for a Resilient Future [in the context of tsunamis], was jointly organised by the UNESCO-IOC Indian Ocean Tsunami Information Center, Intergovernmental Coordination Group for Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System (ICG/IOTWMS WG-1 and WG-3), and the Agency for Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics of Indonesia (BMKG). The event attracted over 100 participants with many from the Indian Ocean region.
Mrs. Maki Katsuno-Hayashikawa, the Director of UNESCO Jakarta, and Prof. Ir. Dwikorita Karnawati, the Chair of ICG/IOTWMS and Head of BMKG, provided opening remarks. Experts from the Indian Ocean region shared their experiences on a) How to create accessible tsunami early warning for all; b) Research, development, and implementation plan for the Ocean Decade Tsunami Programme; c) Early warning for remote populations from Maldives; and d) Early warning for people with disabilities from Indonesia. BMKG announced preliminary plans for the second Global Tsunami Symposium to be held in Banda Aceh, Indonesia, during November 2023. Closing remarks were provided by Mr. Rick Bailey, Head of the ICG/IOTWMS Secretariat.
Photo: On 4 May 2000, Mr. Wowok saved lives in Palam Village, Banggai Island, Indonesia by alerting member of his community to the tsunami after seeing the incoming wave. Despite being deaf and speech impaired, he used his arms to show that a tsunami was coming and get people to evacuate to higher ground. Right before the six-meter tsunami wave hit, the villagers reached the hill, safe from harm.
The ocean-wide tsunami exercise Indian Ocean Wave 2023 (IOWave23) was conducted during 4-25 October 2023. The exercise consisted of three tsunami scenarios generated by earthquakes in the Andaman, Makran, and Java trenches, and one further scenario of a tsunami generated by a volcanic eruption on Heard Island in the Southern Ocean. All 25 active Member States of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) Intergovernmental Coordination Group for the Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System (ICG/IOTWMS) were separately placed under tsunami threat during one or more scenarios.
At least 19 ICG/IOTWMS Member States including Australia, Bangladesh, France (Indian Ocean Territories), India, Indonesia, Iran, Madagascar, Maldives, Mauritius, Myanmar, Oman, Pakistan, Seychelles, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand, and United Arab Emirates participated in one or more scenarios. Countries activated their national tsunami warning chains and Standard Operating Procedures with the participation of National Tsunami Warning Centres (NTWCs), Disaster Management Organisations (DMOs), other relevant authorities, first responders, and media.
Community evacuation drills were conducted in at least seven countries, including India, Indonesia, Iran, Maldives, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, and United Arab Emirates. The exercise focused on inclusivity (all genders, those with disabilities, youth, and elderly) connected with the central theme of World Tsunami Awareness Day 2023 of “Fighting Inequality for a Resilient Future”.
The Indonesian coast, between Banda Aceh and Meulaboh, after the earthquake and the tsunami of 26 December 2004. Photo by Evan Schneider © UN Photo
UNESCO supports Member States in improving capabilities for tsunami risk assessment, implementing early warning systems and enhancing preparedness of communities at risk. UNESCO works closely with national institutions and promotes inter-institutional and regional cooperation. Specialized regional centers provide tsunami information that, together with national analysis, is the basis of the warnings issued for the public. In addition, UNESCO promotes community-based approaches in the development of response plans and awareness campaigns which strongly involve education institutions and end-users.