Overview of Hydrometeorological Disasters
in Asia
by
Ti Le-Huu
Water Resources Section
Environment and Sustainable
Development Division
UNESCAP
Main Points of Discussion
 Natural
hazards and hydro-meteorological
disasters
 Hydro-meteorological disasters in Asia
 Recent developments in dealing with
hydro-meteorological disasters
 Trends in disaster management in national
planning
 Needs and recommended priority actions
Major Hazards in Asia
Floods
Cyclones
Earthquakes
Droughts
Tornadoes
Debris flows
Hailstorms
Storm surges
Tsunamis
Haze
Source: UNESCAP Surveys
Hydro-meteorological
Disasters in the Region
 Asia
is one of the most vulnerable regions
of the world to water-related natural
disasters, including floods, cyclones,
droughts, tornados, debris flows,
hailstorms and storm surges (ESCAP’s
recent surveys).
 All countries in Asia are affected by
annual hydro-meteorological disasters.
 Characteristics of hydro-meteorological
disasters may vary among the countries.
Floods in hydrometeorological disasters
The most frequent and severe natural
disaster in Asia is floods.
Critical years: 1992 to 2003. Most
severe years: 1998, 2000, 1997 and
1995.
During the last Decade, floods caused
nearly 200,000 deaths and damage of
several tens of US$ billions (including
US$23 billion lost in 1998 mostly by
floods in China, RoK and Viet Nam)
Annual Impacts of Hydrometeorological Disasters
 Order of impacts: floods, strong
winds, land slides, storm surges.
 Annual damage by hydrometeorological disasters in the
typhoon area varies from $5.5
million in Hong Kong, China to $1.96
billion in Japan.
 Benefits from typhoons: 50% of
annual rainfall in Philippines.
A recent flood in Cambodia
A recent flood in Moosan City,
Republic of Korea
Perspectives
Hydro-meteorological
disaster
management has a long history of
mankind.
Achievements are different from one
country to another depending on
socio-economic conditions.
Diversity in the region provide a wide
spectrum of achievements in hydrometeorological disaster management
processes.
In India, recent trends are
decreasing.
In Thailand, overall trends
are increasing, except
recent damage trend
In Philippines, all trends
are increasing, except
recent house damage
In Japan and ROK,
decreasing trends of
disasters impact are
obvious, although it is
much clearer in the
case of Japan
Best Regional Practices
 Cyclone
and Flood EWS: Typhoon
Committee, Panel on Tropical
Cyclones, Mekong River Commission
and several countries in the region
 Community-based disaster
management: Typhoon Committee,
DPR-SEA-2 and ADPC-IFRC
Workshop on Disaster Management
Practitioners
Key Messages
Hydro-meteorological disasters continue
to be one of the most important
impediments to sustainable socioeconomic development and poverty
eradication in Asia
Success in hydro-meteorological disaster
management depends on how effective
the activities are integrated into the
national development process
Effectiveness of the integration depends
correct understanding of socio-economic
impact of the disasters at all levels:
regional, national, sub-national and local
Opportunities
 Preparatory
activities of the World
Conference on Disaster Reduction in
Kobe, Hyogo in January 2005
 Importance of hydro-meteorological
disaster management in formulation of
IWRM and WSSD targets on IWRM
Plan in 2005
 Importance of disaster management in
poverty eradication of MDGs and JPOI
Recommended Priority Actions

Search for appropriate methodologies to assess
socio-economic impact of disasters
 Undertake pilot projects on application of these
methodologies to better support the national
development processes
 Propose strategies for disaster impact
assessment in the region, based on experiences
of the pilot projects and best regional practices
 Develop a regional programme on management
of hydro-meteorological disasters for poverty
eradication to be presented at the World
Conference on Disaster Reduction in 2005