The document discusses reducing vulnerability to hydro-climatic disasters through disaster risk reduction initiatives in Guyana. It emphasizes understanding the relationship between hazards, vulnerability, and risk; evaluating existing disaster risk reduction programs; and promoting knowledge sharing to build resilient communities. Key points include identifying vulnerable populations, dynamics that propagate disasters in Guyana, challenges in effective disaster response, and measures to mitigate water-related disasters through a multi-sectoral approach incorporating disaster risk management into water resource management frameworks.

1. Hydro-Climatic Disasters in Water Resources Management 30 Nov - 02 Dec 2009, Georgetown, Guyuna

2. Understand correlation between hazard, vulnerability and risks Evaluate disaster risk reduction initiatives Appreciate use of knowledge and information sharing to build safe and resilient communities

3. Hazards are part of natural environmental and normal life Disasters reflect the ways societies structure themselves and manage hazards Vulnerability is the measure of effect of hazards upon the society DRR - reducing the vulnerability to the effect of environmental hazards to a manageable and acceptable level by enhancing risk management initiatives

4. What section of the population is most affected by disasters? Why?

8. Vulnerability - people's exposure to hazards and their susceptibility to hazard impacts Capacity - Collective institutional action to anticipate, cope with, resist and recover from hazard impacts

10. What are the important dynamics propagating disasters in Guyana?

11. Location and extent Frequency and probability of occurrence Intensity/severity Duration of disaster Predictability Hazard environment

12. Successful disaster response plan require information and mobilisation Challenges reaching people in different locations quickly and simultaneously Right message, timely, sufficient and accurate Maps a good medium for communicating hazards information to non-specialists Formats and symbols should be kept familiar

14. Suggest some measures to reduce mitigate water related disasters

15. Seen in light of multi-thematic and multi-sectoral approach in the DRR process Sound background knowledge on hydro-climatic hazard, risk and vulnerability Incorporate disaster risk management in WRM framework

17. Hazards are normal part of environmental occurrences but disasters enhanced by poor planning Poverty engenders vulnerability to disaster risks but disasters multiply poverty DRR starts with risk identification and assessment of vulnerability to enhance decision making Communication of disaster information should be timely, effective and where it is required