東南アジアでの自然災害に即応する情報提供 : ミャンマー国サイク口ン・ナルギス関連情報ウェプサイトの経験

Abstract

Tectonic activities, tropical climate, and vulnerability of the societies have frequently caused major disasters in Southeast Asia. In order to better promote activities in disaster relief and restoration in Southeast Asia, research communities should promptly gather and assemble disaster-related as well as area-related information, and provide it through websites on the internet. This approach of the research communities would be efficient and rational if considering the limited time particularly in the relief stage and the relative strength of the research communities. An important point in gathering, assembling, and providing information is to keep close communication/collaboration with both implementing organizations and supporting people for avoiding isolation in the relief and restoration activities. Based on this approach, a webpage was launched in the official website of the Center for Southeast Asia Studies, Kyoto University on 9th of May 2008, to respond to the disaster caused by Cyclone Nargis which was landed on the Ayeyarwady Delta area of Myanmar on 2nd through 3rd of May 2008. Contents of the webpage presumably covered at the time most of the primary information of Cyclone Nargis and its disaster, including information both of the scientific analysis of Cyclone Nargis and of the physical environment of the Ayeyarwady Delta; however, an issue remained in describing socio-economic, political background of the area which should be particularly useful for activities by organizations with the lack of familiarity with the area. Providing the area description well-organized and useful for activities in disaster relief and restoration is a rational, significant task for the research communities, by recognizing that they have long accumulated information and knowledge of the area. Another issue uncovered was that networking between research communities and implementing agencies is necessary. Through the network, not only local latest information is timely conveyed from the implementing agencies to the research communities, but also information useful for activities in disaster relief and restoration is effectively provided from the research communities to the implementing agencies. Launching and managing a website of a disaster may require a substantial workload, but the research communities would be able to contribute to the society through providing information useful for activities in disaster relief and restoration. Importantly, opportunities of providing such information could bring valuable feedbacks for research.