Mainstreaming Disaster Risk Management in Iraq

Presentation Content Vulnerabilities to Natural/Manmade Hazards National Preparedness The Hyogo Framework for Action Priority Areas for Disaster Risk Reduction Mainstreaming Disaster Risk Management

Vulnerability in Iraq Natural Threats Human Induced Earthquakes Floods Land Slides Sand Storms Drought Depletion of Natural Resources Health epidemics IDPs and refugees Transport and industrial accidents Toxic environmental pollution Terrorism/civil unrest High risk structural collapses Landmines/UXO

Current National Preparedness Historically, Iraq has followed an emergency response approach rather than preparing for disaster before they occur. Disaster risk reduction functions are not centralized within one GOI agency. Rather, placed within line Ministries and the Office of the Prime Minister. Under the PMO, the National Operations Center responds to terrorism and civil unrest incidents. The Ministry of Environment addresses chemical and biological threats in addition to sharing responsibility for landmine and unexploded ordnance with the Ministry of Defense. The Ministry of Displaced and Migrants addresses the resettlement of returning refugees and the welfare of the internally displaced. The Ministries of Agriculture and Water Resources share responsibility for responding to seasonal impacts of water scarcity on agriculture and animal husbandry production.

Current National Preparedness The Ministry of Health is creating protocols and capacities to respond to emerging threats of new health epidemics in addition to building capacities to respond to conditions involving mass casualties. At the Governorate level (currently in nine of 18 governorates) A Governorate Emergency Cell is operational, under the leadership of the Governor, to address humanitarian emergencies in accordance with a “Master Plan” for response functions. The GECs are complimented by a linkage to a Protection Assurance Committee, supported by DRC/UNHCR, offering legal assistance to returnees and others. Civil society institutions appear to be plentiful and offer diverse services to urban and rural populations. Linkage to disaster risk reduction appears limited in number to agencies such as the Iraq Red Crescent Society and the Iraqi Mine and UXO Clearance Organization.

Current National Preparedness Mechanisms The Government of Iraq maintains scientific institutions within line Ministries established to support preparedness for seasonal and unanticipated natural disaster episodes including: Iraq Meteorological Department Geological Survey Department of Iraq Parliamentary Scientific Committee

The Hyogo Framework for Action Define the elements and obligations of signatories Create an enabling environment where disaster risk reduction is a national priority to mitigate the consequences of natural and human induced hazards. Develop a national disaster management structure in Iraq with legislative/financial/inter-ministerial authority to create an enabling environment for the growth of a disaster resilient society. Develop institutional aptitudes to raise technical and operational capacities of key national, governorate, region and local stakeholders to undertake hazard and risk assessments; Develop coordinated disaster risk reduction and preparedness plans at national, governorate, regional and local levels; Develop and implement disaster risk reduction strategies and programmes at national, governorate, regional, local and community levels, particularly in hazard-prone priority areas; Incorporate disaster risk assessment and reduction strategies in sectoral development plans and programmes of line ministries.

Priority Areas for Disaster Risk Reduction Reform of national disaster management agencies, from response oriented to adoption of an all-risk reduction focus and the establishment of stronger coordination mechanisms Development of national-level policies to produce an enabling environment for disaster risk reduction to grow among stakeholders from the public and private sectors and civil society. Raise public awareness of hazard threats while incorporating disaster preparedness into a focus on safe behavior and practices, a well-resourced and prepared response systems with a focus on national and local capacity, and ensuring that recovery includes efforts to reduce underlying risk factors. Development of strong bi-lateral relationships between regional and international disaster risk reduction stakeholders.

Priority Areas for Disaster Risk Reduction Expand use of climate data to encourage more effective water management, agricultural planning and health care and effective early warning systems for threats including famine, drought, floods and severe storms. Appropriate structural interventions to reduce risk (i.e. maintenance of wetlands, improved maintenance and repair of physical infrastructure). Building resilience, promoting innovation, knowledge and education i.e. “disaster proofing” livelihoods, use of science and technology to support the livelihoods of populations at risk, promotion of risk awareness through education at all levels and improving information on the likely impacts of climate change.

Priority Areas for Disaster Risk Reduction Strengthening preparedness, effective response mechanisms and sustainable recovery i.e. community level disaster preparedness incorporates a focus on safe behavior, well-resources and prepared response systems with a focus on national and local capacity, and ensuring that recovery activities include efforts to reduce the underlying risk factors.

Mainstreaming Disaster Risk Management Creation of a culture of disaster risk preparedness by incorporating disaster risk reduction into policies, budgeting, planning and programming related to sustainable development, relief, recovery and rehabilitation activities. Reduced loss of lives/livelihood to natural and human-induced disasters as an outcome of the creation of proactive mechanisms and a strategic agency responsible for policy formulation, planning, information sharing and the coordination and implementation of cross sectoral disaster risk reduction programmes at the national, governorate, regional and community levels.