Twelfth Session of the Intergovernmental Coordination Group for the Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System (ICG/IOTWMS-XII)

The twelfth session of the Intergovernmental Coordination Group for the Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System (ICG/IOTWMS-XII) was hosted by the Islamic Republic of Iran through the Iranian National Institute for Oceanography and Atmospheric Science (INIOAS) at the Kish Island Convention Centre. The ICG/IOTWMS-XII meeting was held during 9–12 March 2019 under the Chairmanship of Dr Andi Eka Sakya. The session was attended by 21 delegates from 8 Member States in the Indian Ocean region (mainly Australia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Oman, Pakistan, Thailand), 1 United Nations agency (APDIM), about 30 observers from 8 countries (Germany, India, Iran, Oman, Portugal, Russian Federation, Switzerland, Thailand) and 3 Secretariat staff. One additional UN agency (UNESCAP) participated through Skype.
Figure: Participants at the Twelfth Session of the ICG/IOTWMS, Kish, Iran, 9-12 March 2019.

The ICG decided to: (i) adopt the Medium Term Strategy 2019-2024 and the Status Report, (ii) continue Working Group 1 on Tsunami Risk, Community Awareness and Preparedness; Working Group 2 on Tsunami Detection, Warning and Dissemination; and the Sub-Regional Working Group for the North West Indian Ocean; and (iii) set up three new inter-sessional Task Teams on “Tsunami Preparedness for a near-field Tsunami Hazard”, “Scientific Tsunami Hazard Assessment of the Makran Subduction Zone” and Exercise Indian Ocean Wave 2020. The ICG recognised that the recent Palu and Sunda Strait tsunamis that were generated by near-field, atypical sources are very complex from an early warning perspective, thus emphasising the urgent need to update hazard assessments, strengthen warning capabilities and enhance community preparedness. Noting the successful conduct of IOWave 18 by Member States and piloting of Indian Ocean Tsunami Ready (IOTR) programme by India and Oman, the ICG encouraged all Member States to consider piloting IOTR in vulnerable communities with UNESCO-IOC recognition. The ICG further decided to conduct a Palu and Sunda Strait Lessons learnt workshop in 2019 and an IOWave exercise in 2020. Capacity development plans for the next inter-sessional period include regional trainings on Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and national-level trainings on Tsunami Evacuation Maps, Plans and Procedures (TEMPP) as part of the IOTIC-BMKG work plan.

The ICG elected officers for the next intersessional period: Chair – Prof. Dr. Dwikorita Karnawati (Indonesia); Vice Chairs – Dr. Behrouz Abtahi (Iran) and Mr. Pattabhi Rama Rao (India).

The ICG/IOTWMS decided to hold its thirteenth session in early 2021 and accepted with appreciation the offer from Indonesia to host it.

Meeting documents and presentations are available at www.ioc-tsunami.org/iotwms-12.