By G. Padmanabhan, Former Emergency Analyst, UNDP, India

It gives me immense pleasure to share with you my views on Southasiadisasters.net on the occasion of its commendable achievement of completing 225 issues over a period of two decades. It began after the Indian Ocean Tsunami, which, in reality, triggered numerous developments in the field of disaster management by local, state, and national-level entities. Southasiadisasaters.net is one such initiative that has carved out a unique niche which did not exist in this region. As far as I know, it comprises voluntary contributions from field practitioners, experts, academics, managers, and other key stakeholders involved in various aspects of disaster management.

Various issues of Southasiadisasaters.net, since its inception, have been emphasising emerging concerns based on field experience and research. These issues have helped in highlighting the topics at various national and International platforms. The timely articulation of these “experience-based pointers” has facilitated informed discussions among participants and planners, providing guidance for resolutions and plans of action. ADMI, in collaboration with many networks in the region, has effectively led this process of timely projection of issues and lessons learnt.

Southasiadisasters.net, like many such initiatives, faces several challenges in the current world of a resource-strapped environment. Therefore, stakeholder engagement is vital for its continuity without compromising quality. Of course, the overall challenges that development faces due to climate change, uncertain political stability, and associated social, physical, and environmental vulnerabilities will always pose a threat to disaster risk reduction.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this piece are those of the author/s and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of AIDMI.