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AROUND THE WORLD 1: Tsunami Warning System Planned

On Thursday, the world’s richest nations pledged more money for a tsunami detection system in the Indian Ocean. After the December 26 earthquake and tsunami, which resulted in 165,000 to 220,000 dead, authorities decided that an alert system is important for that area.

The UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has proposed a network of buoys in the ocean and communication centers. It would be operational by mid-2006. "In a matter of 18 months, there should be a basic regional capacity on a tsunami early-warning system," said Salvano Briceno, director of UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction.

At a five-day conference in Kobe, Japan, which was attended by 4,000 delegates from 150 countries, these and other plans were suggested. An overall plan of a global early warning system of all natural hazards--droughts, floods, hurricanes, landslides, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis and other disasters--was discussed.

James Morris, executive director for the UN World Food Program, said, "The Asian tsunami crisis shocked the world and massive relief efforts are underway for the survivors." WFP is hard at work delivering relief to the as many as 2 million people affected by the tsunami in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Mynamar and Somalia. Over 1 million people received food from the WFP within 20 days of the tsunami.

Morris also said that he believed millions more around the world would be hit by disaster in the next five or 10 years.

Over the past thirteen years, the yearly number of water-related disasters has risen from 50 to over 150. On average, every year 25,000 people die in these disasters. They affect over 500 million people and cost $60 billion.

--Written by Christopher Gooch

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