The Hindu : New Delhi News : Conference on disaster risk reduction adopts declaration

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Nov 11, 2007
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New Delhi

New Delhi

Conference on disaster risk reduction adopts declaration

Special Correspondent

Governments, stakeholders urged to take steps for reducing risks

Conference will review the action taken by national governments

Plan to share and exchange best practices in disaster risk reduction

NEW DELHI: The second Asian Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction has adopted the Delhi Declaration on disaster risk reduction that contains 26 action points.

The declaration, adopted at the conclusion of the conference here on Thursday, called upon national governments and other stakeholders to take specific measures for reducing risks on disasters in Asia and its different sub-regions.

Hyogo framework

It also called for taking action along the Hyogo framework for action, mainstreaming disaster risk reduction, early warning and preparedness, climate change, integration of disaster risk reduction into recovery and reconstruction, partnerships and regional mechanisms.

The declaration affirmed that the biennial Asian Ministerial Conference, which had started in Beijing in 2005, would be expanded as the regional platform for disaster risk reduction, with participation of the national governments, regional and sub-regional organisations, the U.N. agencies, international financial institutions and other stakeholders, including the civil society, scientific and technical organisations, the private sector and the media.

The Asian Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction will be held once in two years by rotation in different Asian countries to review the action taken by the national governments and other stakeholders for the implementation of the Hyogo framework for action, take stock of initiatives taken in various sub-regions of Asia for promoting and enhancing cooperation among the nations within and outside the governments for disaster risk reduction.

It would also share and exchange best practices and lessons learned from disaster risk reduction in various fields, including application of science and technology, community-based disaster preparedness and public-private partnership.

In his valedictory address, Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil highlighted the need for mainstreaming of disaster management initiatives into development planning to minimise the losses due to devastating impact of disasters.

Mr. Patil informed the conference that during the formulation of strategy for the XI Five Year Plan, greater emphasis on structural and non-structural mitigation efforts was placed.

Delegates from 50 countries, experts and NGI/Os attended the two-day conference.

As many as 33 country delegations were led by their respective Ministers.

The next conference will be held in Kuala Lumpur.

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