Press briefing on disaster risk reduction
The United Nations Regional Information Centre for Western Europe (UNRIC) and the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR) is organizing a press briefing on the importance of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction: “Invest today for a safer tomorrow: Increase investment in local action,” taking place in Geneva from 8-13 May 2011.
The press briefing will be led by Paola Albrito, Regional Coordinator for Europe, United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction, Regional Coordinator for Europe; and Martijn Quinn, Member of the cabinet of EU Commissioner Kristalina Georgiev
Background
The meeting expects more than 2,000 representatives from government, including Ministers and VIPs, civil society and the private sector to discuss how actions at international, national and local level can help communities to reduce the risk of disasters. The UN Secretary-General will open the meeting together with Margareta Wahlström, Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary General for Disaster Reduction. The EU will be represented by the Commissioner in charge of International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response, Kristalina Georgieva.
Countries around the world have incurred massive and costly damage in the first quarter of 2011 alone, including (among others) US$300 billion as a result of Great East Japan Earthquake; US$8.5 billion from the earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand; and US$9.5 billion from the floods in Australia. “Costs are going up and wealthy countries are paying a heavy price for infrastructure and direct and indirect economic damage.” Last February, Australia announced a deficit in its trade balance after floods disrupted the national economy. Fast-forward to early in April, where a news release estimated the March 11 earthquake and tsunami in Japan to cost the insurance industry between $21 billion and $34 billion, making it the most costly disaster for insurers since Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
Call for action
UNISDR and its partners are calling on world leaders to join the dialogue at the Global Platform to discuss and decide on immediate actions that will reduce the economic cost of disasters. “Economic loss risk will continue to rise across the world, and in particular, in high income countries if we do not manage to reduce vulnerabilities and build safer societies,” said Ms. Wahlström. “This message is equally true for rich and not so rich countries.”