Margareta Wahlström holds press conference at Japan National Press Club, discusses March earthquake

国連国際防災戦略事務局（UNISDR）（本部：ジュネーブ）のトップである、マルガレータ・ワルストロム国連事務総長特別代表（防災担当）が9月8～11日にかけて、日本を公式訪問しました。9月9日、日本記者クラブで記者会見が行われました。

Margareta Wahlström, Margareta Wahlström, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General (SRSG) for Disaster Risk Reduction and Chief of UNISDR, visited Japan from 8 – 11 September. A press conference was held at Japan National Press Club on 9 September with the participation from a number of media and DRR-related organizations based in Japan. She expressed condolences and sympathies to the people of Japan, particularly to the affected people, on behalf of UNISDR.

Ms. Wahlström explained the purposes of her visit to Japan that included discussions on disaster risk reduction (DRR) issues with Japanese government and relevant agencies, exchange views in relation to the Great East Japan Earthquake, and the site visit to the disaster-stricken area to directly hear from the affected local governments and residents.

Emphasizing that Japan is still a global model of high-standard disaster preparedness and DRR measures by raising some good practices that saved the people’s lives in the recent disaster, she indicated the lessons learned, i.e., the importance to further improve public education and awareness on disaster risks, social integration, and consideration of socio-economic impacts of disasters, besides reinforcing the physical infrastructure. The Japanese experience has a significant impact to the global DRR approaches, therefore, it is expected that Japan will share the lessons learned with the world and keep contributing to advancing the global DRR cooperation and standard.