Hyogo Prefecture, Japan, has held the Subcommittee on Disaster Prevention meeting every March, sharing its measures on disaster prevention and reduction. However, a face-to-face meeting was replaced by data distribution this year due to the prevalence of Covid-19.

The materials include “Hyogo Prefecture's Measures to Prevent Disaster” after the 1995 Great Hanshin Earthquake, “Shelter Operation Guidelines in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic” containing ways to prevent mass infection in shelters, and “First Analysis and Verification Report on COVID-19 Control Measures” containing disaster and epidemic prevention measures based on Hyogo Prefecture’s firsthand experience.

Hyogo Prefecture’s decision to hold the Subcommittee meeting in 2021 in the form of data distribution is viewed as a new model for international exchange between NEAR member regions in a post-Covid-19 era.

The Secretariat has supported the sending of relevant materials to all member regions at the request of Hyogo Prefecture. It will continue to support exchange and cooperation between members going forward.