The Asia-Pacific region is prone to severe natural disasters, as we have witnessed only recently with the devastating Typhoon Morakot killing scores and affecting hundreds of thousands in the region. Population growth, rapid urbanization, conflicts and climate change have also increased people's vulnerability to disasters, and we can expect this trend to continue.
Effective, timely and coordinated response is essential to ensure the survival and recovery of communities affected by disasters. While many countries in this region have well-developed national disaster response mechanisms, the role of UN and other international players in augmenting national response is crucial, especially as we see ever increasing demands being placed on the humanitarian response system.
The Government of Singapore and the Government of Australia, with the support of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), have invited policy makers and operational experts directly involved in disaster preparedness, response and recovery to this two-day workshop to gain a better understanding of humanitarian priorities and challenges in this region. The workshop also seeks to faciliate a robust discussion on disaster response and coordination mechanisms at the national, regional and international levels.
In his opening statement, Brigadier-General Tung Yui Fai of the Singapore Armed Forces and workshop co-chair welcomed the opportunity to partner with UN OCHA and AusAID to co-host the workshop. He noted that the workshop would contribute to the regional dialogue on disaster preparedness, response and recovery. "The workshop provides a valuable platform for experts and policy-makers from the Asia-Pacific region to exchange ideas and forge partnerships".
Australia is committed to strengthening preparedness initiatives across this region, explained Jamie Isbister, Assistant Director General of AusAID, adding that, "in order to be effective we need to ensure our activities are better coordinated, compatible and integrated."
United Nations Assistant Secretary-General Catherine Bragg stressed that the primary responsibility for disaster prevention, preparedness and response rests with governments. "The UN and international humanitarian system are here to support national efforts. That is why we want to emphasise the role of national governments, and together build the capacity of local, national and regional authorities to prevent, prepare for and respond to disasters."
Minister of State for Defence of Singapore, Associate Professor Koo Tsai Kee, who delivered the keynote address at the workshop, stressed that "a humanitarian culture that emphasises strong multi-stakeholder and multi-level partnerships between the many groups of stakeholders" was essential for overcoming challenges in disaster management. He noted that such partnerships should be based on clear principles and cultivated through the building up of trust and familiarity between the different stakeholders in disaster management.
Over the next two days participants representing 25 countries will explore issues with regional resonance such as the multilateral humanitarian system, the role of NGOs, civil-military coordination, disaster risk reduction, and the contributions of Asia-Pacific donors to emergency funding mechanisms. |
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