 "Rajnath Singh")
Asian region is specially vulnerable to disasters, both natural and man-made, which are occurring with increased frequency and intensity, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said today.
Addressing the Asian Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (AMCDRR) here, Singh said eight of the ten disasters in the world occur in Asia, making two-thirds of the world's population vulnerable.
"Disasters, both natural and man-made are occurring with increased frequency and intensity," he said.
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"If we all work together with a united focus and a shared sense of responsibility to improve disaster resilience, we will be far more effective than the individual efforts of any one sector. This is, therefore, a timely and important conference, a critical first step in implementing the Sendai framework in our region," he said.
Singh said disaster risk recognises no political boundaries and this includes risks caused by human actions: disasters in one region can, and will, impact other regions.
"It is, therefore, also satisfying that today we realise that both disaster risk reduction, and disaster relief need to be supported through bilateral, regional and international cooperation, including partnerships," he said.
Singh said it is with this spirit of regional and international cooperation that India has supported, and is always ready to support, other countries, specially its neighbours, in disaster mitigation and management efforts.
"We offer the best we have in terms of technology, capacity building and relief expertise to all those in need. We are uncompromisingly committed to regional and international cooperation in this regard," he said.
In his welcome address, Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju said in the last few decades Asia-Pacific region has experienced exponential increase in disasters.
"These have often hampered the achievement of development goals. The harshest impact is often on the most vulnerable and marginalised people. The impact of natural disasters has been growing rapidly due to global population growth, urbanisation and increased socio-economic activity-with a tenfold increase in losses from disasters since the 1970s," he said.
Rijiju said Sendai is a forward looking and ambitious
framework aimed at reducing the number of people affected and damage to critical infrastructure from disasters by 2030.
"Successful implementation of the Sendai Framework at national and local level calls for critical attention to its guiding principles and seven global targets," he said.
The Minister said countries will need to adopt the guiding principles while prioritising action towards the seven global targets.
This will entail creation of an enabling environment at all levels towards effective and accelerated implementation of the Sendai Framework, with the collaboration and cooperation of all governments and stakeholders, he said.
Rijiju said India is amongst the first countries to frame National Disaster Management Plan and the country's endeavour in the Plan is to take all stakeholders along in the efforts to build a resilient India.
"We believe that while governments have to pay a central role, civil society organisations, professional bodies, scientific and technical institutions and the private sector have to play important role in this effort," he said.
The Minister also said there is a need to move from disaster management to disaster risk management approach and to look at it as development governance issue.
"This Conference will provide a unique opportunity to shape the efforts towards disaster preparedness and risk management for effective response and to 'Build Back Better' in recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction.
As many as 61 countries from Asia and Pacific region with 1,100 delegates, besides around 2,900 domestic representatives are participating the three-day conference.
The meeting will pave the way for implementation of Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction in the Asian region and will also devise a mechanism for monitoring its progress.
