WKC Forum 2015: Creating resilience society and community for ageing society in disaster situations
During the last 20 years since the 1995 Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake in Japan, a great deal of effort has been made in communities and by local and national Governments, and international levels to prepare, respond, and recover from natural disasters. The 2005 Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA) was adopted by all countries to address disaster risk reduction, while agencies such as WHO, UNDP, UNISDR, etc. have developed specific guidance for the various parts of the disaster continuum. The HFA has been evaluated and is the basis for discussion for its revision at the March 2015 World Conference for Disaster Risk Reduction in Sendai. Many lessons have been learned in the past decade, including from the Great East Japan Earthquake, and from so many other disasters across the world. This has led to a great need to share the lessons on to achieve the current goal on how to create a resilient society and community.
Japan is the world’s most super-aged society in the world. As a result, aged populations were much more affected in the 1995 Great Hanshin Awaji Earthquake and in the 2011 GEJE. There are many implications from the vulnerability of older populations that help us better understand how to better prepare, respond, and support survivors. Older persons are also important parts members of the community that can help lead and contribute to resilient communities.
One of the largest issues confronting communities is caring for survivors that include health, psycho-social, and physical issues.
This forum will provide an opportunity to discuss lessons from past disasters to guide how to create a more resilient ageing society that can better prepare for future disasters and support survivors. These lessons will be useful for future dissemination.
At this forum, WKC is inviting four Japanese experts in the field of disaster nursing, social welfare for elderly people, psychology and community healthcare who will share their experiences and discuss how to develop a resilient society and community for ageing society in disaster situations.