Time to get serious with disaster risk reduction

Special attention was paid in the document to the least-developed countries, small island states and African countries which are among the most vulnerable states to natural disasters.

Regrettably, developed countries could not agree to mention specific percentages or figures for how much they should increase financial support for developing states.

A positive outcome of the Sendai Conference was the clear request addressed to the UN General Assembly to integrate into its post-2015 strategy for sustainable development the seven goals mentioned above in order to reduce risk for loss of life, livelihood and critical infrastructure from disasters, through enhanced national planning and international cooperation.

From a diplomatic perspective, it should be recalled that the WCDRR stimulated intense negotiations and debates to finalize the recommendations reflected in the Sendai Framework. Five ministerial round tables focused on important topics such as "Reconstructing after Disasters: Building Back Better"; "International Cooperation in Support of a Post-2015 Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction"; "Governing Disaster Risk: Overcoming Challenges"; "Reducing Disaster Risk in Urban Settings"; and "Public Investment Strategies for Disaster Risk Reduction."

Changing solidarity into real power

The WCDRR received encouraging intellectual contributions from parliamentarians, civil society, national platforms for disaster risk reduction, local government representatives, scientific institutions, the private sector, from specialized UN agencies and many intergovernmental organizations. It is relevant to mention that the Public Forum of the Conference had 143,000 visitors during the WCDRR.

In the course of numerous side events, children, youth and women representatives called for new avenues to participate in decision-making related to budget allocations, volunteering, global solidarity and inter-generational equity. Special emphasis was put on the necessity to change solidarity into real power by expanding support efforts in responding to the voices of disaster-affected women.

In order to be translated into reality, the Sendai Framework demands strong commitment and political leadership from all 193 UN member states. It must be considered as a truly action-oriented document, able to inspire further efforts to be systematically undertaken by the world community of nations which is dramatically confronted today with a multitude of global perplexities and vulnerabilities.

It is in this context that a short but well-articulated political declaration was adopted by the WCDRR in support of the implementation of the Sendai Framework and containing an appeal for unceasing and tireless collective efforts to make the world safer from the risk of disasters in the decades to come for the benefit of the present and future generations.

At the sub-regional level, it is interesting to note that the ten members of Asean are in the process of charting the Asean Post-2015 Vision, which will further underline the importance of becoming a community that is resilient with enhanced capabilities to collectively respond in a timely manner to emerging trends and challenges for the common good and one that empowers peoples and institutions to become fully responsive, adaptive and prepared to address natural and human-induced disasters, as well as negative consequences of climate change. This orientation is in full harmony with the provisions of the Asean Charter which specifically refers to the need to strengthen existing bonds of regional solidarity, while stipulating that in the conduct of their external relations Asean member states shall, on the basis of unity and solidarity, coordinate and endeavor to develop common positions and pursue joint actions.

At the continental level, India announced that in 2016 it will host the first Asian Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in order to finalize and adopt a regional implementation plan of the new post-2015 framework for disaster risk reduction, as a key element of the global and regional efforts to give tangibility to global solidarity in one of the most sensitive and demanding chapters of international cooperation.