The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) organized a Workshop and Training on Integrated Disaster Risk Management and Assessment Procedures for Thailand with technical support from the GIDRM and the German Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance (BBK). Running from 30 January to 2 February 2017, it was attended by 130 staff of Thai ministries and DDPM’s line agencies including the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Public Health, the Office of the National Security Council, the Metropolitan Waterworks Authority and many others.
Deputy Head of Mission at the German Embassy in Bangkok, Dr. Peer Gebauer, gave a speech at the opening session together with the DDPM’s Deputy Director General. In his key note address, Mr. Stefan Helming, GIZ’s Country Director for Thailand and Malaysia, emphasized the urgent need to mainstream disaster risk management into the development agenda, increase practical knowledge-sharing and jointly create smart disaster risk management solutions.
The trainer, Mr. Peter Lauwe, Head of the Risk Management and Protection Concepts for Critical Infrastructure Section at BBK, under the German Federal Ministry of the Interior, provided an insight into the German integrated risk assessment system along with a set of useful techniques and methods to help the Thai specialists develop a systematic disaster risk management (DRM) approach at the national and sub-national levels as well as to identify gaps to be filled. The participants learned how to assess potential risks that could compromise public safety, align the Thai risk assessment system to German/international standards, and implement preventive measures to reduce risks. As the next step, DDPM will conduct a series of training sessions and establish an Expert Group to develop the integrated risk assessment methodology for Thailand.
The Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Act of 2007 provides the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) of Thailand under the Ministry of Interior with a mandate to coordinate activities with all disaster risk management (DRM) stakeholders and facilitate a process of learning and innovation within Thailand’s risk management system. Since the act provides DRM-mechanisms for the authorities at all administrative levels, DDPM’s role is to establish a systematic DRM process by facilitating cooperation and collaboration among government, civil society, private sector and academic stakeholders. With the Global Initiative on Disaster Risk Management (GIDRM) as its partner, DDPM is moving forward to imbue knowledge about integrated disaster risk management and assessment procedures by conducting a stakeholder involvement process at the start of workshop.