Description

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Context:

UNESCO unveils a roadmap for global tsunami preparedness to protect all coastal residents by 2030.

Details:

Event	20th anniversary of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, marked by an international conference in Banda Aceh, Indonesia.
UNESCO Initiative	Achieve 100 per tsunami-ready coastal communities globally by 2030.
UNESCO Tsunami Ready Programme	Over 30 countries have benefited, with critical early warning systems established.
Recognition of Tsunami Ready Communities	26 in India and 12 in Indonesia newly recognized.
Global Tsunami Risk	700 million people live in tsunami-prone areas, projected to reach 1 billion by 2050.
Tsunami Occurrence	Locally damaging tsunamis occur every 1-2 years in the Pacific; near 100% chance of a Mediterranean tsunami within 30 years.
Detection Systems	Global network includes tens of thousands of seismometers, 1,200+ active sea-level stations, submarine cable observatories, and 74 deep-ocean tsunami buoys.
Three-Step Warning Process	Detection (seismic sensors, deep-ocean buoys), Warning (wave forecasting and alerts), Dissemination (sirens, radio, smartphones).
Notable Past Tsunamis	2004 Indian Ocean tsunami (227,000+ fatalities); 2011 Japanese tsunami (20,000 fatalities).

About United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)

It is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) with the aim of promoting world peace and security through international cooperation in education, arts, sciences and culture. It has 194 member states and 12 associate members, as well as partners in the non-governmental, intergovernmental and private sector.

Headquartered in Paris, France, UNESCO has 53 regional field offices and 199 national commissions.

UNESCO was founded in 1945 as the successor to the League of Nations International Committee on Intellectual Cooperation. UNESCO's founding mission, which was shaped by the events of World War II, is to advance peace, sustainable development, and human rights by facilitating collaboration and dialogue among nations.

About Tsunami

Tsunamis are a sequence of extraordinarily long waves that are produced when the ocean shifts dramatically and suddenly as a result of earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, etc. These are among the most potent and destructive natural forces; they are also known as seismic sea waves.

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https://www.iasgyan.in/daily-current-affairs/tsunami-ready

Tsunami

Source:

DOWNTOEARTH

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q.Examine the causes of tsunamis and their impact on coastal ecosystems and human settlements. Suggest measures to enhance India's preparedness for tsunami events. (150 words)