Van

uatu

Mete

oro

log

y &

Geo

-haza

rds D

ep

art

men

t

Pro

tect

ing L

ives

and P

ropert

y

Vanuatu Meteorology & Geo-hazards Department –

Ministry Infrastructure and Public Utilities.

Application of Space Technology and the Geographic information system

for DRR and Sustainable Development

18th – 22nd December 2012

Thailand - Bangkok

Mike. Sam WAIWAI- Senior Climatologist & Data Analyst

Vanuatu Meteorology & Geo-hazards Department –

Ministry Infrastructure and Public Utilities.

Application of Space Technology and the Geographic information system

for DRR and Sustainable Development

18th – 22nd December 2012

Thailand - Bangkok

Mike. Sam WAIWAI- Senior Climatologist & Data Analyst

Country Report

Vanuatu

Country Report

Vanuatu

1

Van

uatu

Mete

oro

log

y &

Geo

-haza

rds D

ep

art

men

t

Pro

tect

ing L

ives

and P

ropert

y

The Republic of VanuatuThe Republic of Vanuatu

Ø Composed of more than 80 small islands, 65 of which are inhabited

Ø Capital City: Port VilaØ Land Area: 12,200km2

Ø Major languages: Bislama,English, French

Ø Major Religion: Christianity

Ø Life Expectancy: Male - 67 yrs, Female – 70 yrs

Ø GDP per Capita: US$ 1,600Ø Population: 253,589 (VNS ,2009)

Ø 85% of total population live in rural areas

Van

uatu

Mete

oro

log

y &

Geo

-haza

rds D

ep

art

men

t

Pro

tect

ing L

ives

and P

ropert

y

VUVU

Vanuatu’s location in relation to the world

Van

uatu

Mete

oro

log

y &

Geo

-haza

rds D

ep

art

men

t

Pro

tect

ing L

ives

and P

ropert

y

Why ? NEED Space Technology and GIS AND DRR

FOR VANUATU

Why ? NEED Space Technology and GIS AND DRR

FOR VANUATUØ Sits on the Pacific “Rim of Fire”.

Ø Sits on the subduction zone of two tectonic plates and subjected to frequent earthquakes.

Ø Sits on the Pacific cyclonic belt.

Ø Sits within 450,000 km2 of an Ocean waters

Ø Covers a land mass of 12,189 km2

Ø 900 km from Torres Group (Nth) to Aneiytum (South)

Van

uatu

Mete

oro

log

y &

Geo

-haza

rds D

ep

art

men

t

Pro

tect

ing L

ives

and P

ropert

y

TectonicsTectonicsV

an

uatu

Mete

oro

log

y &

Geo

-haza

rds D

ep

art

men

t

Pro

tect

ing L

ives

and P

ropert

y

Disasters in VanuatuDisasters in Vanuatu

CycloneLandslidesFloodingEarthquakesVolcanic Eruption

CycloneLandslidesFloodingEarthquakeTsunami

CycloneLandslidesDroughtsTsunamiVolcano

CycloneEarthquakesLandslidesFloodingFireDroughtVolcano

CycloneVolcanic EruptionFloodingDrought

Van

uatu

Mete

oro

log

y &

Geo

-haza

rds D

ep

art

men

t

Pro

tect

ing L

ives

and P

ropert

y

Van

uatu

Mete

oro

log

y &

Geo

-haza

rds D

ep

art

men

t

Pro

tect

ing L

ives

and P

ropert

y

Estimated Level of VulnerabilityEstimated Level of Vulnerability

Countries Cyclones

Coastal Flooding

River Flooding

Tsunami

Earthquake Landslides

Drought Volcanic Eruption

Cook Islands M M L M M/L H nil

FSM M H L H L/L H nil

Fiji H H H H M/H M nil

Kiribati L H nil H L/L H nil

Marshall Island

M H nil H L/L H nil

Niue M H nil M L/L M nil

Palau M M nil M L/L M nil

PNG L H H H H M H

Solomon Island H H H H H H H

Tokelau M H nil H L/L H nil

Tonga H H M H H/L M H

Tuvalu L H nil H L/L M nil

Vanuatu H H H H H/H H H

Van

uatu

Mete

oro

log

y &

Geo

-haza

rds D

ep

art

men

t

Pro

tect

ing L

ives

and P

ropert

y

Van

uatu

Mete

oro

log

y &

Geo

-haza

rds D

ep

art

men

t

Pro

tect

ing L

ives

and P

ropert

y

Ø Vanuatu , the first country to develop NAP on DRR and DM 2006-2016 which was approved by the Cabinet as a supplementary to PAA

Ø The National Action Plan on DRR and DM 2006-2016 a Long term Policy Strategy of the Government.

Ø A link to Regional Framework for Action 2005-2015, the Hyogo Framework For Action 2005-2015 and the Pacific Plan Resolution .

Ø NAP contains 8 thematic areas and 51 Actions.

Ø NAP has two major Components...Disaster Risk Reduction and Disaster Management.

DRM NAP 2006-2016 a Long term strategy Policy

DRM NAP 2006-2016 a Long term strategy Policy

NDRMO 2011-2012

Van

uatu

Mete

oro

log

y &

Geo

-haza

rds D

ep

art

men

t

Pro

tect

ing L

ives

and P

ropert

y

What we are doingWhat we are doingØ Strengthen and integrated institutional arrangement

with Meteorology and Geo-hazard NDMO and other stakeholders.

Ø Strengthening governance and decision making arrangements other stake holders.

Ø Strengthen government commitment in the implementation of Disaster Risk Management in Vanuatu.

Ø Integration of DRR and DM into Finance and Budgeting and Economy.

Ø Provincial Disaster Plan, and Response Plan.

Ø Understand the Risk of Hazards around or in each Sector.

Ø Proactive Community base resilience.

Van

uatu

Mete

oro

log

y &

Geo

-haza

rds D

ep

art

men

t

Pro

tect

ing L

ives

and P

ropert

y

Challenge’sChallenge’sSpace and GIS applications for DRR is very low in the Developing Island countries such as Vanuatu due to lack of;

ØCapacity building e.g. Human Resources who are expert in this areas.

ØNo proper tools equipment's such as the technologies and Scientific materials and right people to handle it.

ØInstitutional and expertise in different areas related to space and GIS applications is .

Van

uatu

Mete

oro

log

y &

Geo

-haza

rds D

ep

art

men

t

Pro

tect

ing L

ives

and P

ropert

y

Way forwardWay forwardUsing GIS technology we can analyze and see where natural disasters have previously occurred and how they have impacted the landscape. We can also try to predict where a natural disaster is most likely to occur." By understanding where disasters happen, the international community can develop new and more efficient methods to reduce future disaster risks.

Space and GIS application can play a crucial role in supporting Disaster Risk Reduction.Therefore;

ØThe Government of Vanuatu should work together with donor partners to promote and exchange ideas of Space and GIS applications to reduce DRR/M

Van

uatu

Mete

oro

log

y &

Geo

-haza

rds D

ep

art

men

t

Pro

tect

ing L

ives

and P

ropert

y

Continued….Continued….Ø There should be good working partnership in sharing

skills and knowledge in promoting space and GIS Applications for DRR/M.

Ø Implement National Policies and plans to encourage Space and technology and GIS as a Government Priority Agenda ( PAA). In all levels. Regional to National level.

Ø Common understanding and coordination across government agencies to be strengthened to promote between Management authorities and Space agencies to reduce Disaster Risk Reduction. (DRR/M)

Van

uatu

Mete

oro

log

y &

Geo

-haza

rds D

ep

art

men

t

Pro

tect

ing L

ives

and P

ropert

y

ConclusionConclusionAs Vanuatu is rated high and more vulnerable to disasters

Space technology and GIS applications for DRR is a MUST and priority.

ØBetter understanding where disasters happen.

ØPredict where a natural disaster is most likely to occur in the future.

ØAnd so that the communities can develop new and more efficient methods to reduce future disaster risks.

Van

uatu

Mete

oro

log

y &

Geo

-haza

rds D

ep

art

men

t

Pro

tect

ing L

ives

and P

ropert

y