..Press Release................................ UNESCAP News Services

Date 28 March 2005
Press Release No: N/17/2005

ASIAN GOVERNMENTS DISCUSS REGIONAL DISASTER SYSTEM

Bangkok (UN Information Services) -- A meeting on Early Warning Systems for disasters in Southeast Asia involving government representatives is taking place 28-29 March 2005.

The meeting is a joint effort by the Asian Disaster Preparedness Centre (ADPC) and Thailand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs in collaboration with the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP).

A press conference will take place on Tuesday, 29 March 2005, 13.00-13.45 hours in Conference Room F at the United Nations Conference Centre. Government representatives from eight countries will be available for questioning about their plans and needs for disaster preparedness.

The two day "End-to-end Multi-hazard Early Warning System - Southeast Asia: Assessment of Needs” meeting involves 40 participants responsible for disaster management in Cambodia, China, Laos PDR, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam.

Natural disasters affecting the Asian region include tsunamis, storm surges, earthquakes, volcanoes, typhoons, hurricanes, droughts and floods.

NOTE TO EDITORS: You or your representatives are cordially invited to attend the press conference at 13.00-13:45 hours, Tuesday, 29 March 2005 at Conference Room F, UN Conference Centre, Rajdamnern Nok Avenue, Bangkok.

For further information please contact:

UN Information Services Bangkok
Tel: +(66-2) 288-1861-69, Fax: +(66-2) 288-1052
E-mail: unisbkk.unescap@un.org

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