CANADA
APPLAUDS OUTCOME OF WORLD CONFERENCE ON DISASTER REDUCTION
The
Government of Canada welcomed the outcome, including the Hyogo
Framework for Action, of the second World Conference on Disaster
Reduction, which took place in Kobe, Japan from January 18 to 22, 2005.
The
Conference outlined a 10-year framework for action that promotes disaster
reduction and ties it to the international aid and sustainable development
agendas of developed and developing countries. A consensus was also
reached on establishing a global multi-hazard warning system, including a
tsunami early warning system for the Indian Ocean.
"Canada
is committed to implementing the Framework for Action and welcomes the
establishment of the early warning system," said Foreign Affairs
Minister Pierre Pettigrew. "The devastation in the Caribbean and
more recently the earthquake and tsunami that affected countries in Africa
and Asia have reminded the international community of the critical
importance of disaster preparedness and mitigation. It is both timely and
encouraging that the international community has come together to agree on
a framework for action that will promote efforts to reduce the
impact of disasters around the world and help communities better prepare
for them."
During
the Conference, Canada announced through the Canadian International
Development Agency (CIDA) that $1 million will go to the United Nations
Development Program in 2005 for its disaster reduction project. CIDA also
announced that a further $1 million will go to the International
Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent for disaster preparedness and
capacity building.
"The
impact of natural disasters on developing countries is disproportionately
great," said Minister of International Cooperation Aileen Carroll.
"The programs CIDA is supporting with the funding announced at the
conference will help to integrate disaster reduction into development
planning and programming, as well as build the capacity of vulnerable
communities, countries and regions to prepare for and mitigate the impacts
of natural disasters."
The
Government of Canada also indicated that, through Public Safety and
Emergency Preparedness Canada (PSEPC), it will work with provinces,
territories and stakeholders to develop and implement an effective
National Disaster Mitigation Strategy. The Strategy seeks to focus
Canadian efforts at all levels of government and is aimed at reducing
risks and the impact of natural disasters. Canada's follow-up to the
conference also includes discussions on disaster mitigation at a
conference of federal, provincial and territorial ministers on emergency
management from January 23 to 25.
"The
Government of Canada looks forward to working with all concerned
stakeholders, within and outside government, to address the challenges we
face in implementing an effective disaster mitigation strategy," said
Anne McLellan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Safety and
Emergency Preparedness.
Canada's
delegation to the conference was led by Paul Kennedy, PSEPC Senior
Assistant Deputy Minister, and included technical experts from Natural
Resources Canada, Foreign Affairs Canada, CIDA, Environment Canada and the
Public Health Agency of Canada. It also included representatives from the
University of Toronto, the Canadian Red Cross and the University of
Manitoba's Natural Resources Institute.
