|
April-May
2004
|
|
|
ON
THE ROAD TO KOBE, HYOGO
World Conference on Disaster
Reduction (WCDR), Kobe, Hyogo,
Japan, 18-22 January 2005
1st
session of the Preparatory Committee (PrepCom 1)
for the WCDR
PrepCom 1 directly followed the IATF/DR meeting, attracting over
300 participants representing UN Member States and a number of
UN agencies and programmes and NGOs. Documentation presented
at PrepCom 1 is available on the ISDR website (http://www.unisdr.org),
with further details on the Conference to appear shortly on the
WCDR website.
A summary of the session compiled by the Earth Negotiations Bulletin
is available at http://www.iisd.ca/isdr/wcdr/prepcom1
National
inputs for the WCDR - reminder
National reporting and inputs is an essential component in the
lead up to and for the elaboration of outcomes of the WCDR. UN
Member States are urged to participate and submit their inputs
to the ISDR secretariat by 15 June 2004. Numerous
countries have indicated their preparation of reports, with India
being the first to submit its input to the secretariat.
For further information and the outline for national inputs,
please refer to http://www.unisdr.org/eng/wcdr/national-inputs/wcdr-national-imputs.htm
For any enquiries relating to the Conference, please contact
the WCDR Special Unit on
isdr-wcdr@un.org
|
|
9th
session of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Disaster Reduction (IATF/DR)
During the 9th session (4-5 May, Geneva) the IATF/DR a panel discussion on
the future challenges in the implementation of disaster risk reduction in relation
to the WCDR was held, chaired by Under-Secretary General of Humanitarian Affairs
Jan Egeland and other high-level representatives of WMO, UN University and
the IFRC. A first draft of the review of the Yokohama Strategy and Plan of
Action (adopted in 1994) was presented and recommendations were made for its
refinement as well as for the development of WCDR programme outcomes. Implementation
mechanisms at the national level were emphasized as being a key area for integration
of disaster reduction within their "daily work". The IATF/DR work
programme for 2004 was revised and new working groups on Africa and climate
change and risk reduction were established. On-going work on risk, vulnerability
and impact assessments, as well as urban risk assessment methodologies and
challenges is continuing towards the establishment of networks, programmes
and partnerships, similar to those of the wildland fire network and early warning
platform.
Session records and related documents are available at
http://www.unisdr.org//eng/task%20force/tf-meeting-9th-eng.htm
What
is the GLIDE?
The GLIDE (GLobal unique disaster IDEntifier number) is a tool for effective
disaster information sharing and management, issued on GLIDEnumber.net according
to occurrence of new event and used by an increasing number of organizations
interested in disasters. A recent meeting reviewed progress in promoting the
use of GLIDE numbers, in particular at the national level.
For more information about GLIDE, please refer to http://www.glidenumber.net
2004
UN Sasakawa Award for Disaster Reduction
Nominations are still being accepted for the 2004 UN Sasakawa Award for Disaster
Reduction until 18 August. Join us in rewarding individuals and institutions
from around the world who contributed, through innovative practices and outstanding
initiatives, to reducing the risk and vulnerabilities of communities to natural
hazards!
To download the nomination form (available in English/French/Russian/Spanish),
please refer to http://www.unisdr.org
For further information on the UN Sasakawa Award for Disaster Reduction, please
refer to http://www.unisdr.org/eng/sasakawa/sk-about-eng.htm
Commission
on Sustainable Development's 12th meeting (CSD-12) highlights the
need for comprehensive approach to disasters
Held on 14-30 April in New York, CSD-12 commenced with a preparatory meeting
for the ten-year review of the Barbados Programme of Action for the Sustainable
Development of Small Island Developing States to be held in Mauritius in August-September
2004. A number of other items were addressed, with related documentation available
at http://www.un.org/esa/sustdev/csd/csd12/csd12.htm
|
|
ISDR
Highlights is a monthly email update on current news in disaster
reduction published by the Inter-Agency Secretariat of the International
Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UN/ISDR).
Please direct all enquiries (including subscription requests) to: isdr@un.org
|
|