Post by Alejandro Linayo

REGARDING THE JICA MASTER PLAN FOR DISASTER REDUCTION IN CARACAS: BETWEEN TRUTHS AND HALF-TRUTHS. Dear all, Once again, after a major disaster, the studies that warned about it appear, along with the indignation over not having done things in time. In this instance, this follows the devastation of the last major earthquake recorded in Venezuela, and the prominence given to the BASIC PLAN FOR DISASTER PREVENTION IN THE METROPOLITAN DISTRICT OF CARACAS, carried out between 2002 and 2005 by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), stands out. That study covered three of the municipalities of Caracas—Libertador, Chacao, and Sucre—and although it refers to some studies on the seismicity of Vargas prepared by FUNVISIS (2001), it is important to clarify that no diagnosis or recommendations regarding the seismic risk of Vargas were included in that JICA plan. Another remarkable aspect of that effort is the leading role played by the Venezuelan technical counterparts and their invaluable contributions. It is worth remembering that this study covered 19 aspects of disaster risk in Caracas, which were entrusted to 22 senior researchers selected by JICA (16 from Japan, 2 from the USA, 1 from Peru, 1 from Costa Rica, and 1 from Venezuela). We worked alongside entities such as FUNVISIS, INAMEH, INGEOMIN, and the IMME and IMF (UCV), represented by national references such as Doctors Michael Schmitz, Reinaldo García, and others. It is worth noting that the topics included in that project covered prevailing natural and socioeconomic conditions, controlled and uncontrolled urban development processes (shantytowns), the institutional framework/legislation for disaster management, seismic scenarios (based on the earthquakes of 1812, 1900, and 1967), scenarios for torrential mudslides, the prevailing social perception and vulnerability to disasters, and even some full-scale housing failure tests (to evaluate seismic resistance) which were led by engineer Salvador Safina and in which the IMME-UCV participated significantly. From those studies, an action plan consisting of twenty projects was proposed, in which seven actions were prioritized: 1) Seismic Reinforcement of Buildings, 2) Seismic Reinforcement of Lifelines, 3) Structures for Torrential Mudslide Control, 4) Relocation of highly exposed settlements, 5) Early Warning Systems, 6) Strengthening of Civil Protection, and 7) Supporting community risk management capacities. The cost of implementing this was estimated at 2.8 billion dollars. In the presentations made of the Plan (2005-2006), the social and economic benefit that this investment would have was always emphasized in terms of the significant number of casualties and material damages that Venezuela could save when a new major earthquake hits Caracas. Here you can download this plan: https://lnkd.in/eBEYEvBX