Asia meets on Post-2015 DRR framework
GENEVA, 23 June 2014 – A strong turn-out of government ministers and top disaster management officials will ensure high-level political engagement in key discussions at this week’s 6th Asian Ministerial Conference for Disaster Risk Reduction in Thailand which formally opens tomorrow.
More than 2,500 representatives from 42 countries are expected in Bangkok for the three-day conference to agree the region’s priorities for the post-2015 global framework for disaster risk reduction.
The Conference will feature four High-Level Round Tables comprising Ministers in charge of disaster risk management and the Heads of Delegation from each country present. At one of these forums Ministerial Statements will reflect on implementation of the current global framework for disaster risk reduction, the Hyogo Framework for Action, and highlight priorities for consideration at the Third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in Sendai, Japan, in March 2015.
The other three High-Level Round Tables will focus on: enhancing resilience at local levels; resilient public investments; and public-private partnerships for disaster risk reduction. A series of technical sessions around the same themes will be held at the Conference in support of the political dialogue.
The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General and Head of the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR), Margareta Wahlström, said the degree of high-level political engagement at the Conference reflected the priority the region gives to reducing disaster risk.
“Asia and Pacific understands as well as any region in the world that all disasters are local in their impacts and as such it consistently supports local and practical solutions to build resilience. The region has also been a pioneer of inclusive approaches to disaster risk reduction that see leading roles for such important groups as the private sector, people living with disability and young people. This is the future and the essence of resilience,” Ms Wahlström said.
“It is also important to acknowledge the presence of Pacific nations at the Conference. Their focus on integrating disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation will also be a major theme at the upcoming UN Conference on Small Island Developing States in Samoa in September,” she added.
The current available list of Ministers and top Government officials set to attend this week’s 6th Asian Ministerial Conference for Disaster Risk Reduction is as follows:
Afghanistan: Director General of the Afghanistan National Disaster Management Authority (ANDMA), Dr Mohammad Daim Karkar
Australia: First Assistant Secretary of the Attorney Department Mr Michale Rothery
Azerbaijan: Assistant of the Minister for Emergency Situations Mr Tariyel Huseynov
Bahrain: Commandant of the Civil Defense School Col. Adbul-Aziz Rashid Al-Amer
Bangladesh: Minister of Disaster Management and Relief H.E. Mofazzal Hossain Maya Chowdhury
Bhutan: Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Home and Cultural Affairs Mr Tshering Dorji
Brunei: Minister of Home Affairs H.E. Pehin Dato Haji Badaruddin Othman
Cambodia: Deputy Secretary-General of the National Committee for Disaster Management Mr Ma Norith
China: Minister of Civil Affairs H.E. Li Liguo
Fiji: Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries H.E. Inia Batikoto Seruiratu
Indonesia: Chief of Indonesian National Disaster Management Authority Minister H.E. Dr. Syamsul Maarif
India: Secretary Border Management, the Ministry of Home Affairs Ms Sneh Lata Kumar
Iran: Deputy Head of the National Disaster Management Organization Mr Morteza Akbarpour
Japan: H.E. Kenichi Suganuma, Ambassador in Charge of the Third World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan
Jordan: Interior Minister Assistant for Civil Protection Affairs, Brig-Gen. Khaled Abdelrahman Khalaf Al Dabbas, General Directorate of Civil Defence
Kazakhstan: Director Mr Yerik Tuleuzhanov Department of Prevention of Emergency Situations
Kyrgyz Republic: Head of Infrastructure and Public Procurement Sector, Ministry of Education and Science, Mr Bakyt Kadyrkulov
Lao: Vice Minister of Natural Resources and Environment H.E. Bounkhamh Vorachit
Malaysia: Minister of the Prime Minister Department H.E. Dato Seri Dr. Shanidan Bin Kassim
Maldives: Minister of Defence and National Security H.E. Mohamed Nazim; State Minister of the National Disaster Management Centre H.E. Mohamed Zuhair; and Deputy Minister of the National Disaster Management Centre H.E. Fathimath Thasneem
Marshall Islands: Minister in Assistance to the President H.E. Wilbur Heine
Mongolia: Chief of the National Emergency and Management Agency, Mr Togooch Dulamdorj
Myanmar: Deputy Minister of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement H.E. Phone Swe
Nepal: Home Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Mr Surya Prasad Silwal
New Zealand: H.E. Phillip Gibson, Special Envoy for Disaster Risk Management, New Zealand Embassy
Pakistan: Chairman of the National Disaster Management Authority, Maj-Gen. Muhammad Saeed Aleem
Philippines: Under-secretary of the Department of National Defense, Ms Angella Gilberto Alfafara
Qatar: Director General of Public Security H.E. Saad Bin Jassim Al Khulaifi
Republic of Korea: Minister H.E. Hyoungoen Shin, Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the Kingdom of Thailand; Vice Administrator of the National Emergency Management Agency, Mr Jo Suang
Russian Federation: Minister-counsellor H.E. Evgeny Bessonov Embassy of the Russian Federation in the Kingdom of Thailand; Head of the Center for Strategic Studies (EMERCOM) of the Ministry of Civil Defense and Emergencies, Mr Mikhail Faleev
Sri Lanka: Minister of Disaster Management H.E. Mahinda Amaraweera
Tajikistan: Chairman of the Committee of Emergency Situations and Civil Defense, Mr Khayridin Abdurakhimov
Tuvalu: Minister of Home Affairs H.E. Namoliki Sualiki Neemia
Thailand: Ambassador and Permanent Representative H.E. Thani Thongphakdi, Permanent Mission of Thailand to the UN Offices and other International Organizations in Geneva
Timor Leste: Vice Minister of Social Solidarity H.E. Jacinto Rigoberto Gomes De Deus
Turkmenistan: Deputy Minister of Defence, Head of General Directorate for Civil Defence and Rescue Affairs H.E. Yusup Muhammetgulyyev
United Arab Emirates: Director of the National Authority, Emergency and Crisis Management, Mr Al Rashid Al Niyadi
Viet Nam: Deputy Director General, Water Resources Directorate, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr Nguyen Xuan Dieu