A programmatic approach for regional cooperation to strengthen tsunami early warning systems in the Makran region: recommendations note, April 2017

This Recommendation Note outlines the proposed programmatic approach by ESCAP, which comprises two phases of intervention and follows the logic of a structured process to build tsunami early warning and preparedness in the North Western Indian Ocean (NWIO). Phase 1 will support the countries to establish the required preconditions to strengthen self-protection capacities at community level. This includes the improvement of warning services at the National Tsunami Warning Centre (NTWC) level and national warning chains, the development of inundation maps and evacuation plans as well as initiatives by the science community to create a better understanding of the dynamics in the Makran Subduction Zone (MSZ).

Phase 2 will build up on the achievements of the first phase, strengthening ownership and understanding of the national systems by all stakeholders involved and the general public as well as addressing mechanism for up-scaling and roll-out of the previously developed and tested approaches especially regarding evacuation planning and warning mechanism at local level. Further essential topics, as risk analysis and response planning on local level will be addressed to strengthen the participating countries in establishing and providing the required services, guidelines and mechanisms to support communities in the implementation of self-protection arrangements against near-field tsunamis. 

This Recommendation Note is based on the results from a preceding desk study regarding the status quo and existing gaps of tsunami early warning systems in NWIO countries, the discussions and interviews held during the NWIO Working Group (NWIO-WG) meeting of the Intergovernmental Coordination Group for the Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System (ICG/IOTWMS) in Tehran, Iran (Islamic Republic of), and outcomes from an analytical workshop organized by ESCAP and ICG/IOTWMS.