News
Seventeenth Meeting of TOWS-WG Concludes with Key Recommendations for Tsunami Preparedness
Hosted at the International Research Institute of Disaster Science (IRIDeS), Tohoku University, the meeting ran parallel to the Task Team on Disaster Management and Preparedness (TT-DMP) and the Inter-ICG Task Team on Tsunami Watch Operations (TT-TWO) meetings, sharing joint agenda items.
The meeting witnessed significant discussions and deliberations on various aspects of tsunami preparedness and mitigation strategies. The group’s key recommendations included closer collaboration between IOC/UNESCO and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) to integrate tsunami activities with initiatives like the Early Warning for All (EW4ALL), aiming for comprehensive disaster preparedness. Additionally, the group agreed to expedite the provision of reports and organisation of webinars to disseminate critical information to relevant stakeholders regarding tsunamigenic volcanoes and associated hazards.
The meeting confirmed and endorsed the hosting by the Bureau of Meteorology and Geophysics (BMKG) of Indonesia and IOC/UNESCO of a Global Tsunami Symposium Planning in Indonesia in association with the commemoration of the twentieth anniversary of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. Recommendations were made to ensure diverse representation – including gender balance and regional inclusivity – in identifying invited speakers for the upcoming symposium in Indonesia.
Work is in progress on a Tsunami Ready Toolkit to help countries implement the Tsunami Ready Recognition Programme with the help of social science experts. This effort aims to boost community involvement and tackle the tough challenges of tsunami preparedness.
Additionally, the partnership with UNDRR for World Tsunami Awareness Day has seen the global expansion of the #GetToHighGround campaign. The theme for 2024, "Empowering Children and Youth," highlights the crucial role of educating young people about tsunami risks. Upcoming events include the aforementioned twentieth anniversary of the 2004 tsunami, the Asia Pacific Ministerial Conference on DRR, and the Africa Regional Platform on DRR.
Furthermore, the group expressed gratitude for the financial support provided by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to developing countries in disaster management and will continue to collaborate and change expertise when the opportunity arises.
Wrapping up, the meeting urged for sustained teamwork and proactive measures to bolster global tsunami preparedness and mitigate the impact of natural disasters. The recommendations stemming from the discussions will be submitted to the IOC Executive Council in June 2024 for further consideration and action.
About the TOWS-WG
Through Resolution XXIV-14, the IOC Assembly at its 24th session decided on the establishment of a Working Group on Tsunamis and Other Hazards Related to Sea-Level Warning and Mitigation Systems (TOWS-WG).
The group is tasked primarily to advise the IOC Governing Bodies on coordinated development and implementation activities of warning and mitigation systems for tsunamis and other hazards related to sea level of common priority to all Intergovernmental Coordination Groups of Regional Tsunami Warning and Mitigation Systems.
In 2021, The IOC Assembly reaffirmed the need for continued inter-ICG coordination through TOWS and the extended tenure of its two inter-ICG Task Teams on Disaster Management and Preparedness (DMP), and Tsunami Watch Operations (TWO).
