International disaster reduction conference opens in Kobe

A United Nations conference on disaster reduction has opened in Kobe, Japan, with the subject of a global tsunami early warning system, top of the list of priorities.

Around 4000 delegates from 150 countries have gathered in Kobe for the World Conference on Disaster Reduction to address the need to better prepare communities to deal with natural disasters.

The devastating tsunami in the Indian Ocean three weeks ago is expected to be the main focus of the five-day conference. There have already been calls for the introduction of a global tsunami warning system in the wake of the Boxing Day disaster, which has killed over 160,000 people, injured more than half a million others and left around five million people lacking basic services.

Speaking ahead of the opening of the conference, Salvano Briceno, Director of the UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction, said: "Three weeks after the tsunami in the Indian Ocean, people realised the importance of having a good early warning system. We very much hope that the conference will come up with concrete results and a strong plan of action for reducing disaster losses over the next ten years."

Speaking at the opening of the conference, United Nations Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Humanitarian Relief Coordinator, Jan Egeland, stressed the need to make societies more resilient so that they could deal with natural disasters. He said: "All disaster prone countries should adopt clear, goal-oriented disaster reduction policies and actions underpinned by dedicated structures and resources."

Mr Egeland also emphasised the invaluable role of communication and education in making disaster-resilient societies a reality. He said: "Technology is not a cure-all. From Singapore to South Africa, experience shows us that people, not hardware, must be at the centre of any successful disaster warning and preparedness measure." He added that children needed to be educated about living with natural hazards around them, as part of their basic life skills education.

Mr Egeland also proposed a new funding initiative to meet the challenge posed by natural disasters and recommended that countries should use a minimum of 10% of the billions spent on disaster relief to help reduce the risk of disasters.

The World Conference on Disaster Reduction takes place in Kobe, Japan, ten years after an earthquake hit the city killing nearly 6,500 people and injuring another 40,000.

(KMcA/SP)