Desarrollando ciudades resilientes 1 Millón de Escuelas y Hospitales Más Seguros
MESSAGE BY MARGARETA WAHLSTRÖM, SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE UN SECRETARY- GENERAL FOR DISASTER RISK REDUCTION AND HEAD OF THE UNITED NATIONS OFFICE FOR DISASTER RISK REDUCTION (UNISDR)


 

By: UNISDR – The Americas.

Geneva, Switzerland, June 27-  I would like to thank everyone who contributed to making the 4th Session of the Regional Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction in the Americas (#RP14), for such a memorable milestone on the road to Sendai, Japan, where next year a successor to the Hyogo Framework for Action will be adopted at the Third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction.

It was very encouraging to hear so many examples from the Americas of the practical measures which you are taking to address the underlying drivers of risk and to spread the culture and awareness of disaster risk reduction from national to local level. The Americas has many shining examples of how the HFA priorities are now factored into key decisions around land use and building; early warning systems; disaster preparedness; science and education.

While acknowledging that many challenges still lie ahead on the road to disaster resilience, this record of achievement adds weight to the recommendations which you have made for inclusion in the Post-2015 framework for disaster risk reduction.

In addition to your focus on “indicators of resilience,” I appreciate the strong message you have sent asking for integration between the new DRR framework and other initiatives around sustainable development goals and climate change which will also come to fruition in 2015.

I would like to extend a special word of thanks to the Platform host, the Government of Ecuador and the Minister Maria del Pilar Cornejo. Ecuador was not only a perfect host but also a perfect participant.

The Deputy Foreign Minister, Leonardo Arízaga, set the tone from the outset with a clear statement of what Ecuador has achieved through its smart investments in disaster risk reduction – almost 1,000% return in eventual savings against future losses.

That is a message worth bringing to Sendai! I look forward to seeing you there. ------

 

Message issued in Geneva, Switzerland on June 27, 2014.