Sunday, June 21, 2009

Disaster risk reduction in Sri Lanka

A few snips from an address by Disaster Management and Human Rights Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe at the Second Session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction Geneva, from the Daily Times of Sri Lanka: …Sri Lanka has made vast strides in developing a structured and scientific approach to disaster management…

…Climate change is a global phenomenon which needs prioritization on the world’s agenda as it has implications not only for development but for the very survival of some members of the international community. We fully endorse and support the Global Platform’s focus on climate change adaptation as one of the key feature of the deliberations during this week.

… The identification of lacunae such as information on droughts - in addition to tropical cyclones, earthquakes, floods and landslides which the index is broadly based on - in developing the MRI leaves us much work to do and we must work together in a spirit of cooperation to further enhance this tool which will make it an invaluable tool in planting for better disaster risk management.

…I was fortunate to participate in the International Conference on Gender and Disaster Risk Reduction in Beijing two months ago. In as much as we have come to recognize that disaster risk reduction is a critical component of development planning, we must view gender issues, governance, sustainable development strategies and the maintenance of socio-political stability as inextricably linked and cross-cutting facets of any national policy framework….

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