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

Date 6 October 2005
Press Release No: N/50/2005

UNITED NATIONS SASAKAWA AWARD FOR DISASTER REDUCTION
RECOGNIZING ASIAN EXPERTISE

Bangkok (United Nations Information Services) -- For the first time ever, the United Nations Sasakawa Award for Disaster Reduction will be given in Asia. The 2005 winner is also from the Asia-Pacific region.

Mr. Chimeddorj Batchulluun of the Mongolian government’s National Emergency Management Agency won the US$40,000 prize and crystal trophy for reducing the vulnerability of farming communities in Mongolia to winter disease and famine.

Another regional winner, Indonesia’s Simeulue Community, is also being rewarded through a Sasakawa Certificate of Merit for its disaster policies that helped save thousands of lives during the Indian Ocean tsunami. After a 1907 earthquake, disaster preparedness was integrated at the local government level, so that only 7 lives were lost during the 2004 tsunami from a local population of 83,000.

Two additional candidates, Mr. Claude de Ville de Goyet (Belgium) and Jaime Parejo (Spain) are also recognized through Certificates of Merit. The Belgian candidate generously decided to donate his financial reward of US$ 5,000 to the Simeulue Community to contribute to its speedy recovery and rehabilitation process from the 2004 tsunami through the development of an integrated disaster management strategy including disaster reduction measures.

The Sasakawa Award ceremony will take place at the UNCC Bangkok at 1045 hours on 12 October, the UN International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction. There will be a special program from 1000 to 1245 hours including a UNESCAP-ADPC Forum on Disaster Reduction, with the expected participation of the Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior as well as UNESCAP Executive Secretary Mr. Kim Hak-Su.

The 2005 Sasakawa Laureates will share their experience and present the achievements for which they are being rewarded during a panel discussion on “Disaster Risk Management in Asia and the Pacific: Learning from Recent and Innovative Experiences”.

The United Nations Sasakawa Award for Disaster Reduction was created by Mr. Ryoichi Sasakawa to contribute to international initiatives of a humanitarian nature. It is administered by the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UN/ISDR).

The award will be in Asia for the first time, hosted by the recently established UN/ISDR programme for Asia and the Pacific. The ceremony venue in Bangkok will contribute to recognising and highlighting the Asia-Pacific region’s expertise in disaster risk reduction. The Award represents both a powerful educational tool and a strong encouragement to keep improving technologies and knowledge in reducing the root causes of disasters. .

NOTE TO EDITORS: You or your representatives are cordially invited to attend the International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction celebrations starting as of 1000 hours on Wednesday 12 October, including the Sasakawa Award ceremony (in Conference Room 4) at 1045 hours, UN Conference Centre, UNESCAP, 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
http://www.unescap.org
http://www.unisdr.org

* *** *