EM-DAT Technical Advisory Group Meeting 26-27 October 2009, New York Lessons of creating disaster database in Nepal Surya Narayan Shrestha, Deputy Executive Director National Society for Earthquake Technology – Nepal (NSET)

Significance of Disaster Database Helps in creating scenarios of realized risks in the past Supports policy decisions on Strategic planning Development planning Disaster preparedness At national to local levels When disaster database is properly generated and maintained at national to local levels

Situation prior to DesInventar Database (2004) Existing Database Systems in Nepal MOHA Data Rescue and relief NRCS Data MOA Data Damage and loss of agricultural land and crops EDCD Data Epidemics and health issues

Problems in existing database system Published disaster data are available only for the period after 1983 Lack of consistency in attributes of the data No standardized data collection formats No systematic analysis of the data Focuses on those disasters which involved rescue operation and relief efforts Small to medium scale disasters are not recorded These have significant impact on development efforts

DesInventar in Nepal Series of informal discussions held among UNDP/BCPR, NSET and other relevant institutions on the need for developing a comprehensive disaster database UNDP/BCPR encouraged Nepalese institutions to initiate the process of systematic disaster inventory and was ready to support financially During 20-22 May 2003, a training program on DesInventar methodology was organized in Nepal Participated by key Nepalese institutions: National Planning Commission (NPC), Ministry of Home Affairs (MOHA), UNDP/Nepal, Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC), Nepal Red Cross Society (NRCS), NSET)

The Project: DIMS Disaster Inventory / Information Management System in Nepal (DIMS) After the training, the participating institutions organized series of meetings and decided that NSET implements the project in creating disaster database of the period 1971-2003 UNDP/Nepal contracted NSET in November 2003 for implementing the project Project period: December 2003 – July 2004 (8 months) Amount: Approx. $18,000 (NRs. 1,402,104) Included: trainings, data collection, verification, entry, analysis, workshops, report preparation

Key outputs and achievements from DIMS Training of professionals Establishment of the system Collection and inventory of about 12,500 disaster events and their impacts Analysis of disaster occurrences and their impacts Sharing and exchange of data and lessons Establish preliminary methodology for economic analysis Concept for institutionalization of DIMS at national to local levels

Key outputs and achievements Feasibility of developing and maintaining disaster database is established Importance of disaster database is well realized by stakeholders Wide acceptance on the need for continuation of the effort Realizing this, NSET is continuing the effort by its own resources 2004 upto Jul. 2009 already completed

DesInventar in Nepal Need Realized for Systematic Recording NSET, itself, Continuing for the Remaining Years…… NSET Implemented for 1971-2003 with support of UNDP Training for 10 Professionals with support of UNDP/BCPR A Computer Based Software DESINVENTAR Need Realized for Systematic Recording

Methodology Identifying natural disaster events (in Nepalese context) Develop data collection format Identification of sources of information Daily newspapers (Gorkhapatra Daily as the key source together with few other daily newspapers) Reports and periodicals Government records

Methodology Training for data collection and entry Data collection and monitoring Data entry into DesInventar system and analysis Analysis of collected data Display in Chart, Map and Tabular Forms

Disasters Events Considered in Nepal DesInventar Earthquake Fire Storm Flood Landslide Heavy rain Famine Epidemic Sedimentation GLOF Avalanche Snow storm Hail storm Thunder storm Frost Leak of Hazardous Fluid Forest fire Explosion Plague Panic Pollution Structural collapse Boat Capsize Cold Wave Heat Wave Accident Strong wind Drought

Key summaries from Disaster Database of Nepal (1971 – 2007)

No. of Buildings Damaged / Destroyed Disaster Events during 1971-2007 in Nepal (Source: DesInventar Database, NSET) Event Data-cards (Events) Population Deaths Population Affected No. of Buildings Damaged / Destroyed Flood 2,720 2,936 3,367,974 154,104 Landslide 2,184 3,987 479,972 25,451 Earthquake 94 873 4,539 89,020 Fire, Forest Fire 3,978 1,125 228,456 66,395 Epidemics 3,129 15,741 461,952 - Drought 152 1,512 Cold Wave 192 298 1,453 Heat Wave 31 25 261 Famine 20 2 83,902 Avalanche 90 217 1,012 28 Other Hydro-meteorological 2,123 1,166 281,661 9,144 Others 675 886 13,868 1,781 Total 15,388 27,256 4,926,562 345,923

Nepal DesInventar : Summary Facts These are only reported figures! Disasters are Frequent: Total events recorded = 15,388 (for past 37 years, 1971-2007 AD) Total deaths 27,256 (Annual average deaths = 736) Missing: more than two thousands Injury: 54,182 Annual average people affected = 133,150 These are only reported figures!

Yearly Spread of Disaster Events August 24, 2009 NSET: Nepal Risk Assessment

Spatial Spread by Districts August 24, 2009 NSET: Nepal Risk Assessment

NSET: Nepal Risk Assessment Spread by VDC  VDCs with 6 or more  VDCs with 5  VDCs with 4  VDCs with 3  VDCs with 2  Below or equal to 1          Number of Datacards August 24, 2009 NSET: Nepal Risk Assessment

Deaths by Disaster-hazard Types Percentage distribution of death numbers August 24, 2009 NSET: Nepal Risk Assessment

Hazard-wise Affected Population Top 10 Disaster Types August 24, 2009 NSET: Nepal Risk Assessment

Buildings Destroyed & Damaged by Hazard Types August 24, 2009 NSET: Nepal Risk Assessment

Buildings Destroyed & Damaged by Year August 24, 2009 NSET: Nepal Risk Assessment

Disaster Calendar Prepared by Analyzing DesInventar Database Note: Earthquake can occur at any time, and hence it has no seasonal variation

Characteristics / limitations of Nepal disaster database Data of 1971 and afterwards are covered, due to Availability of resources: time and money Limited reporting of disasters in media Events – all: small, medium to large events with one or the other type of impacts are covered Disaster event-types generalized into 28 types Data from the secondary sources only, no field verifications have been made However, the data verified from different sources

Observations in current DesInventar System Events vs. No. of data cards Change/update in political/administrative boundaries Economic analysis

Next Steps Central/National District Local Institutionalization of the system at National level Training for potential users Establish the system in each District Central/National District Local However, this will take time; therefore NSET continues maintaining the database

The collaboration with CRED Expected to be fruitful in enhancing the data quality Increase compatibility with global database systems

Thank You

Approx. Cost for Maitaining Required cost for continuing the effort (NSET continuing in the current mode of data collection) USD 15,000 per year Covers Data collection from secondary sources, verification, entry, analysis, report preparation Cost covers Staff cost, Hardware/software, office logistics, transportation etc.