List of Laureate(s) and Recognitions rewarded in the context of the 2005 Sasakawa selection process Laureate 2005 Mr. Chimeddorj Batchulluun, Mongolia Nominated by National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the Government of Mongolia Certificates of Distinction Mr. Jaime Parejo Garcia, Spain Nominated by Mr. Jose Ricardo Meda, Fire Chief of El Salvador, Mr. Francisco Bariios, Counsellor, Permanent Mission of Spain to the UN in New York, and Mr. David Rodriguez Carrasco, Instructor del Metodo Arcon Mr. Claude de Ville de Goyet, Belgium Nominated by Pan American Health Organization Certificates of Merit Simeulue Community Group, Indonesia Nominated by the Government of Indonesia Interviews Mr. Chimeddorj Batchulluun from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in the Government of Mongolia Jaime Parejo The “Arcón” Methodology Claude de Ville de Goyet A Pioneer Of “ Safe Hospitals” Tsunami and the People Of Simeulue Mr. Chimeddorj Batchulluun from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in the Government of Mongolia 1. Could you give me some statistics about the impact of the Dzud? How does it affect the Mongolian people every year? Mongolia is a large but sparsely populated country which often experiences extreme climate conditions. The economy is dominated by agriculture, especially livestock husbandry. Dzud is the Mongolian name for severe winter weather storms in which extreme cold, heavy snow and strong winds prevent cattle and other animals from feeding over long periods of time. The consequences of dzud can be very severe, especially when it involves the loss of livestock that is fundamental to the economy. If a dzud occurs in combination with another type of disaster, the damage can be catastrophic. For centuries, dzuds have caused serious losses to livelihoods with important resulting social and economic impacts throughout the country. According to historical records, there were 15 occurrences of dzuds in the 18th century, 31 in the 19th century and 43 in the 20th century. Climate conditions in the period between 1990-1999 were very favourable for Mongolia. Livestock grew from 25 million to 33 million animals. This was a period of considerable success for the herders who comprise almost 50 per cent of the country’s population and for the economy of the country as a whole. Dzuds then occurred in Mongolia in 1999, 2000, 2001, and 2002 with their effects compounded by accompanying droughts in the summer months. The period was also marked by some human factors in that there was only a limited preparedness for such potential and accumulated disasters. Thirty-four people lost their lives due to dzuds and snowstorms and more than 8.4 million livestock perished from the direct impact of dzud-related disasters. These losses to the country were estimated at more than US$ 330 million. Many thousand households lost all their livestock, seriously increasing their levels of poverty. 2. What did you do to reduce the impact of this natural hazard on herders’ communities? I grew up in a family of herders and I spent my childhood in livestock pastures. Later, working for an emergency management organization, I participated in the following activities to reduce the impact of dzuds on livestock: I studied the impact of booklets distributed by the Central and local government during the Dzud disaster of 1999-2000 and concluded that they were very effective for young local authority leaders and herders. During the dzud period, special attention was given to the broadcasting and dissemination of best practices and measures to be taken to prepare for and help to reduce the effects of the disaster. As the manager of the National Emergency Management Agency of Mongolia, State Standing Emergency Commission and Disaster Mitigation Division, my primary responsabilities were to collect and process information in real-life situations in local areas, such as assessing the damages to submit it to the Central government for rapid decisions and implemention. I think I have contributed to reducing the impact of dzuds with my hard work. One of my main duties has been to organize training sessions, meetings and discussions jointly with the Government and agencies, local authorities and NGO’s. These were able to introduce traditional knowledge and herding methods to young herders to help prevent dzuds. I also provided psychological assistance to herders in difficult situations. 3. How do you work with the meteorological services? The meteorological and hydrological services of our country provide regular weather forecasts and warnings on hazardous phenomena on a daily, weekly and monthly basis. In order to improve disaster warning and disaster prevention, we work closely with the Institute of Meteorology for delivering timely warnings to herders so they can use it more effectively. We also organize monthly and weekly radio meetings with them about weather forecasts and to transmit urgent information. We also conduct joint research on hazardous phenomena and previous disasters. 4. How did you combine the cultural and traditional knowledge with modern capacities? Mongols have a rich experience and knowledge on how to overcome natural disasters and have indeed a specific way of living and dwelling close to nature. The teaching of traditional knowledge about weather forecasting and its effects on livestock has become an important part of our approach to disaster management. We organize training sessions, meetings and discussions for the younger members of the community. We publish articles in newspapers and booklets on traditional herding as well as giving lectures too, for the general population. 5. How did you work with the international community to make dzuds known and better understood ? The international community and the humanitarian organisations have given us invaluable assistance and support in disaster response and recovery when dzuds occurred in our country. I have had many meetings with ambassadors, diplomats and representatives of international organizations where I was able to provide reports to them about the situation of local herders and their extremely severe living conditions. I am proud that I have had a chance to meet and work with many specialists and representatives from international humanitarian organizations. During the period of dzud, the Mongolian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the United Nations representative Office to Mongolia issued an appeal for international assistance based on surveys and conclusions prepared by our working team. More than 15 countries and 20 international humanitarian organizations provided cash and and extended their assistance. This enabled us to implement many projects and programmes to help in decreasing poverty. I am very proud of my contribution to disaster management. Jaime Parejo The “Arcón” Methodology Version en español 1) How did Jaime Parejo get involved in the field of disaster reduction? Since his childhood, Jaime Parejo’s favorite pastime has been the study and observation of animal behavior, especially that of certain birds and insects. In 1982, this interest led him to focus his activities on canine breeds. Later, especially because of his previous experience as a volunteer at the Red Cross and the Fire Department e in Cadiz (Spain), he discovered his second vocation: work on search-and-rescue activities. For many years, these two factors where the motive forces of his intense dedication to creating a new system that optimized the performance of dogs during search operations for buried survivors. In 1994, he achieved his goal and named his own method in honor of his pioneer trainee and canine companion, “Arcón”. Through his persistent efforts, which involved observation, study, analysis, field experimentation and research, he was able to develop a set of novel techniques. These interrelated techniques optimized the levels of independence, motivation and concentration of canines and, therefore, their efficiency during search operations for people buried alive. This method was effective both outside and in confined places, in environments with zero visibility or spaces so constraining that it was difficult to move. 2) What are the results of this method? The following are a number of Since 1999, after numerous operations in countries events related to the Arcón affected by earthquakes such as Colombia, Turkey, Methodology, which illustrate the Taiwan and India, canine rescue teams from different avenues that have been followed, fire departments in Andalusia, Spain, were the first as commented during the ones to prove the substantial effectiveness of this interview: system. The following are examples of these operations: 1994: Jaime Parejo believes that his system has been perfected as Sakarya, Turkey: August 18-21, 1999. Rescue a novel and efficient method for Canine Unit of CPCIS, Huelva (Spain) training and conducting searches According to eye-witness sources from rubble after disasters with canine rescue clearance teams, among the survivors was a teams. He named this method man who was found and rescued from being after his pioneer trainee and trapped under four stories of concrete rubble canine companion. This is a by dogs trained with the Arcón Method. These method created as a result of 12 dogs located him during a search conducted years of intensive work under on top of the ruble. Turkish army soldiers who rigorous research and scientific were present later communicated what had preparation that started in 1982. happened during the operation. Pu-li, Taiwan: September 3, 1999. Canine May 1998: After obtaining the Rescue Units of CPCIS, Huelva and Ayto de compulsory legal qualification, the Huelva Arcón Method is registered and One man was found alive in the Pu-li market. legally protected at the General Canine teams of the aforementioned units Registry Office for Intellectual succeeded to locate him in a collapsed Property, in Spain. building where the possibility of finding survivals was considered impossible. These November 1998: In Madrid, Jaime canine teams had searched in the same area Parejo officially receives the First on previous occasions. Taiwanese teams were Award to Research granted by the then called in to clear the rubble.