|
..Press
Release................................
UNESCAP News Services
|
Date 7
October 2004
Press Release No: L/55/2004 (SG/SM/9520;
OBV/440)
IMPROVE CHAIN OF INFORMATION, DECISION-MAKING
IN PREPARING FOR RECURRING HAZARDS, SAYS SECRETARY-GENERAL IN
DISASTER REDUCTION DAY MESSAGE
Following is the text of Secretary-General Kofi
Annan’s message on the International Day for Disaster
Reduction to be observed on 13 October 2004:
The theme of the International Day for Disaster
Reduction, “Learning from today’s disasters for
tomorrow’s hazards”, reminds us that the task of
learning from disasters concerns every one of us.
In the aftermath of a disaster, government authorities,
businesses, community groups and individuals should all ask
whether appropriate actions, such as early warning, were taken
to save life and property. All should resolve not to repeat
the mistakes of the past. All should work together to improve
the chain of information and decision-making, so that their
communities are better prepared should hazards strike again.
Young people should also be encouraged to learn
these lessons -- in school, at university, and through community
networks. By participating in educational activities, engaging
in community-risk mapping exercises, and sharing good practices,
young people can learn lifelong lessons, and help make their
communities more disaster-resilient.
At the global level, there is a lot of learning
to do, as well. The World Conference on Disaster Reduction,
to be held in January next year in Kobe, Japan, will give decision-makers
and experts a unique chance to take stock of what has been learned
from our direct experience with disasters over the past decade,
and to provide clear guidelines for implementing those lessons.
Earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, volcanic eruptions
and other natural disasters are an inevitable part of life.
Our degree of vulnerability to them need not be. As we saw during
the recent hurricane season in the Caribbean, the more prepared
communities are, the less likely they are to suffer catastrophe.
After disaster strikes, the first task of local responders and
their international supporters is to bring immediate relief
to the victims. But all involved must also be sure to learn
from what happened, and act to prepare communities to be more
resilient and reduce the risks for the future. On this International
Day for Disaster Reduction, let us rededicate ourselves to that
mission.
* *** *
