Volume 1 - Overview of Yangon's disaster risk profile
Myanmar is the largest country in Southeast Asia by area with a population of over 50 million and is highly exposed to natural disasters. Myanmar ranks 2nd out of 187 countries in the 2016 Global Climate Risk Index1 and 9th out of 191 countries in the Index for Risk Management (INFORM)2. Over the past 25 years, Myanmar has suffered 24 disaster events, affecting more than 4 million people and causing US$4.7 billion in damages3. A preliminary financial risk assessment estimated expected annual economic losses of over US$184 million due to natural disasters, equivalent to 0.9 percent of GDP4. Given the importance of the city of Yangon, many studies that look at natural disasters conducted in Myanmar have focused on the city. In particular, there is a rich body of reports that analyze various aspects of natural hazards and the associated vulnerabilities related to Yangon. At the same time, the country is considering major revisions to its regulatory structure. As a prelude to undertaking this reform, it is crucial to have a complete picture of existing and ongoing natural hazard studies and vulnerability reports that will underpin the subsequent regulatory structure. Accordingly, this study was initiated to compile, review, and assess the available studies related to natural hazards in Yangon.
Myanmar Southeast Asia Disaster Risk Management (SEA DRM) Project5 aims to improve the drainage system and structural performance of selected public facilities in Yangon, as well as to enhance disaster response. A component of this project ‘Safer Public Facilities and Critical Infrastructure’ includes technical assistance activities for a Building Regulatory Capacity Assessment (BRCA), which involves a risk assessment of critical infrastructure in Yangon and a review of the city’s institutional capacity.
This document, Review of Disaster Risks and Structural Vulnerability Assessments in Myanmar is a two-volume report providing the analytical baseline for the BRCA. Findings and recommendations from this review will be used to further refine the objectives and scope of the planned BRCA technical assistance.
Volume 1 – Overview of Yangon’s disaster risk profile is a literature review of existing hazard, exposure, vulnerability and damage assessments in Yangon, and a synopsis of relevant laws and regulations. This volume serves as a detailed account of the large number of DRM-related resources that have been developed to date. No independent vulnerability assessments were conducted as part of this activity.
Volume 2 – Analysis of research findings and implications on disaster resilience of Yangon’s built environment is an analysis of select reports from Volume 1 that have implications for DRM planning, policies, and institutions in Yangon. This volume, which is organized topically as with Volume 1, serves as a high-level synthesis of the reference documents and highlights their key messages for decisionmakers.
Files
Organizations
- World Bank
- GFDRR
- Government of Japan
- Yangon City Development Committee
- Miyamoto International