Announcement of World Bank Underlines the Importance of Hazard Risk Management in ECA Region in Turkey on October 26, 2004

Turkey: World Bank Underlines The Importance of Hazard Risk Management In ECA Region Contacts: In Ankara Tunya Celasin, (90-312) 459 83 43 Tcelasin@worldbank.org In Washington Miriam Van Dyck: 1-202- 458 2931 Mvandyck@worldbank.org Also available: Video of the workshop Broadband version Dial-Up Version Ankara, October 26, 2004 – The World Bank’s Europe and Central Asia (ECA) Region launched today a new working paper on “ Saving Lives and Property Through Hazard Risk Management: A comprehensive Risk Management Framework for Europe and Central Asia” at a workshop co-organized by the World Bank Institute and the Marmara University in Istanbul, Turkey. The report puts forward the new strategy that is the first attempt on a regional level in order to assess the vulnerability of countries to natural disasters. It also initiates a comprehensive hazard management program and recommends specific actions on a country to country basis. “This document is expected to serve as a great motivator for hazard prone countries in the region to take action, knowing that the issues they face are shared by other nations” said Christoph Pusch, principal author of the report. The three day long ECA Hazard Risk Management Workshop brought together almost 100 representatives from UNDP, European Investment Bank, Council of Europe, the Government of India, Eastern and Central European Government Delegations, the US and Turkish and World Bank experts on disaster management to share knowledge, exchange ideas and find improved tools to predict and minimize damage of natural disasters, particularly earthquakes, floods and landslides. Presentations and panel discussions focused on risk assessment and mitigation, monitoring and warning systems, disaster management and predicting macro-economic impact. During the opening speech of the Workshop, World Bank’s Country Director to Turkey Andrew Vorkink made a reference to the August 17, 1999 Marmara Earthquake “ This devastating event increased the awareness in Turkey as well as across Europe and Central Asia to pro-actively promote and to support Hazard Risk Management Operations as an effective strategy to minimize deaths and damage from natural disasters before they occur. As demonstrated by the workshop and the new Hazard Risk Mitigation strategy countries now have new ways to reduce the effects from these natural events which should produce reduced adverse impacts in the future.” The full report is available online at World Bank’s Web page http://www.worldbank.org/hazards/