New Delhi: India and United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction signed a Statement of Cooperation during the second day of the Asian Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (AMCDRR) 2016 here today.
The Statement underlined the guiding principles, objectives and areas of cooperation between India and UNISDR towards the effective implementation and monitoring of the Sendai Framework on Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR), which was adopted by at the Third World Conference on DRRat Sendai in Japan in March, 2015.
The three-day Conference was inaugurated by Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi here yesterday.
Two featured events, two technical sessions and eleven thematic sessions on issues related to DRR were held today.
Besides these sessions, a DRR exhibition with a thematic focus on ‘Make in India’ is being held to showcase good practices in Disaster Risk Management. Various governmental and non-governmental organisations such as Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Coal India Ltd., National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), GSDMA (Gujarat State Disaster Management Authority), Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), Indian Red Cross Society are displaying their initiatives in disaster risk reduction, mitigation, preparedness and response.
Government bodies from some participating Asian countries such as Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, Japan, Thailand and Myanmar have also put up stalls to showcase their efforts in the area of DRR.
The exhibition area will be open for the public from 6 to 8 PM today and from 3-6 PM tomorrow.
Dr. Arvind Panagariya, Vice-Chairman of Niti Aayog, chaired a featured event on application of science and technology for prevention of new risks. The event was aimed at recommending a set of actions to be followed and implemented by the Asian science, technology and academia community as well as the governments.
Another featured event ‘Strengthening regional cooperation for implementation of the Sendai Framework in Asia’ was chaired by Shri Kiren Rijiju, MoS, Home Affairs. The event discussed ways to enhance the role of Inter-Governmental Organizations (IGOs) and regional organisations for risk-sensitive sustainable development in Asia.
The first technical session today was on reviewing and monitoring of the implementation of the Sendai Framework on Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR). It was being led by Thailand and aimed at building a shared understanding of opportunities and challenges in monitoring of the SFDRR.
The Sendai Framework (2015-2030) was adopted by at the Third World Conference on DRR in Sendai, Japan in March, 2015. It identifies targets and priority action areas towards reducing disaster risk.
The second technical session, led by Australia, was on enabling governance for coherence of DRR, response to climate change and sustainable development.
Eleven thematic sessions, led by governments, NGOs, academics, etc., delved at length on specific issues related to DRR such as Gender sensitivity in DRR, Disability Inclusive Disaster Risk Management, Child-centric DRR and Application, etc.
The Conference will commemorate the first World Tsunami Awareness Day on 5th November. The observance of the day would help to spread awareness on the dangers of tsunami and shall stress on the importance of early warning systems in mitigating damage fromthe often devastating natural hazard.
Winners of the short film competition organised during the Conference will also be felicitated during the Closing Ceremony of the Conference tomorrow.
