16 March 2015

Singapore aid for developing countries on new disaster risk framework

Source(s): United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction - Office in Incheon for Northeast Asia and Global Education and Training Institute for Disaster Risk Reduction

16 March 2015, GENEVA – Singapore and the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) will collaborate on a specialized training course for developing countries, in particular Small Island Developing States (SIDS), on the front line of climate change.

The pre-planned joint announcement at the Third UN World Conference for Disaster Risk Reduction coincides with news of a devastating Category 5 cyclone hitting the island nation of Vanuatu this weekend.

Singapore and UNISDR will jointly conduct a specialised training course in Singapore in October 2015 which will support developing countries in their implementation of the outcomes of the post-2015 framework for disaster risk reduction (DRR) which is due to be adopted on March 18, the closing day of the World Conference.

Experts from Singapore and the UNISDR will share their expertise on setting up early warning systems, conducting vulnerability assessments through economic risk analysis, catastrophe assessment, formulating emergency preparedness plans, building resilience in public health systems, climate change adaptation and mitigation measures, and sustainable urban planning.

Singapore’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Law, Mr. K. Shanmugam said: “As a small island state, Singapore is vulnerable to natural and man-made disaster threats. Our approach has been to plan for the long term by integrating DRR considerations into our national development plans and policies. We hope that our friends will benefit from some of our experience in this field, in particular those from small island states facing similar challenges like us.”

The head of UNISDR, Ms Margareta Wahlström said: “This partnership between UNISDR and the Government of Singapore will support least developed countries and small island developing states in implementation of the post-2015 framework for DRR. UNISDR will draw on the experience of the Global Education and Training Institute in Incheon, Republic of Korea, which has trained over 1,800 government officials on various aspects of disaster risk reduction over the last four years, from 73 countries.”

The course will address the needs of SIDS that are particularly vulnerable to cyclones. Singapore will also offer US$50,000 to Vanuatu for immediate humanitarian assistance in the wake of Cyclone Pam.
This course will be conducted under the Singapore Cooperation Programme (SCP), which is the primary platform through which Singapore extends technical assistance to over 170 countries. This course will be in addition to the dedicated technical assistance package for SIDS that Singapore announced at the Third International Conference on SIDS held in Samoa from 1-4 September 2014 which provides customised training in disaster management, sustainable development and non-traditional security.