This document summarizes a presentation given by HariKrishna Nibanupudi at the 4th International Disaster & Risk Conference on disaster risk reduction in the Hindu Kush-Himalaya region. The presentation covers hazards in the region like earthquakes, glacial lake outburst floods, and increased frequency of disasters. It discusses challenges in countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh, and the importance of regional cooperation. It also provides an overview of the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development's work on bridging data gaps, enhancing regional cooperation, developing knowledge and capacity, strengthening community resilience, and disaster preparedness in the Hindu Kush-Himalaya region.

1. Disaster Risk Reduction in the
Hindu Kush – Himalaya Region
HariKrishna Nibanupudi
Team Leader-Disaster Risk Reduction and
Community Resilience
hkrishna@icimod.org
International Centre for Integrated Mountain
Development
Kathmandu, Nepal
4th International Disaster & Risk Conference (IDRC), Davos

2. Session Plan
• HKH Region, hazards, policy scenario and ICIMOD Framework
• HKH-Earth Quake Hazards and risk reduction with a particular
focus on Kathmandy Valley, Nepal
• The challenges of disasters in North western Pakistan and
current management patterns
• Creating a synergy in DRR efforts-Bangladesh
• Disaster management decision support system in the Hindu
Kush Himalayan region
• Importance of regional cooperation in disaster risk reduction
• Discussion

3. The International Centre for Integrated
Mountain Development (ICIMOD)
A regional mountain The Hindu Kush Himalayan Region
Extends over 3500 km from Afghanistan to Myanmar And
knowledge, learning Home to 200 million People
and enabling centre
devoted to
sustainable mountain
development
Information and
Knowledge are chief
Commodities of the
Centre
www.icimod.org
An intergovernmental and independent organisation
http://geoportal.icimod.org
with eight member states
www.icimod.org/drr

4. ICIMOD’s strategic vision and programs
Vision:
The mountain population of the greater
Himalayas enjoys improved wellbeing in a
sustainable global environment.
Strategy:
ICIMOD's strategy is aimed at benefiting the
People of the region and at sustaining vital
Environmental services for the billions of people
living downstream.
 Integrated Water and Hazard Management
 Environmental Change and Ecosystem
Services
 Sustainable Livelihoods and Poverty
Reduction
 Integrated Knowledge Management

5. HKH Rivers: Vital for survival and also a
source of risk:
Ten large rivers of the world flow in the HKH
region
• Amu Darya,
• Brahmaputra,
• Ganges,
• Indus,
• Irrawaddy,
• Mekong,
• Salween,
• Tarim,
• Yangtze, and
• Yellow River
Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China,
India,Myanmar, Nepal, and Pakistanvel

6. Glaciers several thousands of years old
are rapidly disappearing

7. Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs)
−Several studies show that most of glaciers in
Himalaya are shrinking at accelerated rates in
recent decades
−Glacial lakes formed by rapid retreat of glaciers
−Water volume increase in these lakes from the
glacier melt
−Lakes retained by unconsolidated moraine dams
and ice core
−Moraine failure due to piping and overtopping
−Triggered by many factors
−Damaging impact downstream
−Common in Nepal, Tibet/China, Bhutan and other
parts of HKH
About 56 past GLOF events in the HKH
Region (Bhutan - 4, China - 29, Nepal -
14, Pakistan - 9) recorded with about 10
of them of trans-boundary nature

8. Increased frequency and magnitude of natural disasters
Floods
Flash Floods/GLOFS
Landslides Earthquake

9. Disaster events and impacts in HKH region
countries- 1980-2009
OFDA/CRED
Country No. of Disaster No. Of deaths No. of people Damages
Events Affected (000) (US$ Millions)
China 574 148, 419 2,549,840 321,545
India 416 141,888 1,501,211 51,645
Bangladesh 229 191,650 316,348 16,273
Pakistan 131 84,841 29,966 8,871
Afghanistan 125 19,304 6,774 497
Nepal 74 10,881 4,507 1,621
Myanmar 25 139,095 3,315 2,726
Bhutan 9 303 66 5
Data for mountain region specific disasters need to be compiled

10. Hazard Events are increasing
• The region having
average 76 hazard
events each year and
highest found for
china (25) and India
(18). Afghanistan
(10),.
• In average more than
thirty six thousand
people are killed &
178 million people
are affected each
year due to natural
hazards in the
countries in HKH
•

12. Struggling Flood Affected Community in Sindh,
Pakistan, 2010

13. Deaths and affected population in some
recent flood events in the HKH countries
Country Period deaths Displaced
Afghanistan March 2005 100 11,000
Bangladesh July 2007 1,230 13,851,380
Bhutan August 2000 200 1,000
China June 2005 138 16,700,000
India July 2007 2,051 38,143,000
Myanmar August 1997 68 137,418
Nepal July 2007 214 640,658
Pakistan August 2010 2000 20,000,000

14. National Scenario:
Steady progress but Lacking mountain perspective
China: China National Committee for Disaster Reduction
(NCDR) composed of 30 ministries and departments, including
relevant military agencies and social groups.
India: Government of India has formulated the National
Disaster Management Act & Institutional infrastructure such
as NDMA, NIDM, NDRF, etc.
Afghanistan: Institutional capacity to deal with disaster
impacts is building up slowly after years of conflict. ANDMA is
the focal point for disaster Management and has a
coordinative role during emergency operations.
Pakistan: National Disaster Management Commission
(NDMC) established as the apex policy making body,
NDMA as its executive arm,

15. National Scenario:
Bangladesh: Formation of National Disaster Management Act. And
National Disaster Management Plan (2010-2015).
Nepal: The Government of Nepal has this year adopted a National
Strategy for Disaster Risk Management (NSDRM). Formation of Nepal
Risk Reduction Consortium (ADB, IFRC, UNDP, UNISDR, OCHA, World
Bank) to prioritize and implement Five Flagship elements of the
NSDRM.
Myanmar: National Disaster Preparedness Central Committee
(NDPCC) has been formed under the chair of Prime Minister, which is
the apex body for Disaster Management.
Bhutan: The National Disaster Risk Management Framework formulated
in the year 2006 was the first comprehensive multi-stakeholders strategy.

16. ICIMOD’s DRR purpose and strategy for the
HKH region (In line with HFA)
1. Bridge data and information gap to inform policies:
• Establish HKH specific regional disaster database and monitoring
system.
• Develop comprehensive Hazard, risk and vulnerability data with a
focus on HKH areas.
• Conduct policy research and advocacy programs to assist
implementation HFA by ICIMOD member countries with a focus on
the HKH region.
2. Enhance Regional Cooperation in DRR:
• Demonstrate the benefits of regional cooperation for DRR through
evidence based research, pilot projects and impact studies.
• Elicit commitment for regional cooperation through policy dialogues,
advocacy meetings and by playing active role in national regional
and international forums of DRR.

17. ICIMOD DRR Strategies
3. Develop and implement regional information, knowledge and capacity
strategy on DRR:
• Effective use of web based platform for providing disaster information services
• Conduct DRR institutional mapping, capacity assessment in member
countries
• Capacity building strategies & tools for policy makers, administrators, youth
and the media.
4. Strengthen community resilience:
• Implement community level interventions through ICIMODs three program
areas.
5. Disaster Preparedness and Rapid Humanitarian Response:
• Satellite based information and decision support system services to
• Capacity building of institutions, young volunteers and professional

19. Mitigating Flash Flood in Bhutan

20. Monitoring a Glacier Lake in Nepal

21. Thank you