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INTRODUCTION ABOUT THIS ISSUE Voices of Leadership from t is conventional wisdom that South Asia Idisasters derail the development process. However, the impacts of avaged by one disaster after another, the countries of South Asia have disasters can be far more Remerged as highly vulnerable to the risks posed by natural hazards. In debilitating on developing light of this enhanced vulnerability, a regional perspective on risk and countries as compared to their more resilience arising out from South Asia is both pertinent and desirable. The developed counterparts. Plagued 3rd World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (WCDRR) provided an by a plethora of humanitarian opportunity to hear the insights of South Asian perspective on disaster risk reduction (DRR). Held from 14-18 March, 2015 in the Japanese city of Sendai, challenges, the region of South Asia the 3rd WCDRR saw the heads of disaster management dispensations from is consistently ranked as one of the all the South Asian countries issue country statements regarding the progress most vulnerable regions exposed to of their respective countries in implementing the priorities of the Hyogo the risk of natural hazards. Framework for Action (HFA). These leaders also expounded on their vision Recurring disasters in the region for the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR) aptly putting and the devastation followed in forward their nations' aspirations and apprehensions. their aftermath only serve to This booklet is a compendium of the country statements delivered by these highlight this enhanced South Asian leaders at the 3rd WCDRR and aims to capture a South Asian vulnerability of South Asia. perspective on DRR. It contains country statements from India, Afghanistan, Bhutan, Maldives (which represented the Alliance of Small Island States), It is therefore timely and pertinent Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. These statements provide a greater to focus on voices of DRR leaders insight into the DRR achievements and anxieties of these countries. from South Asia. The 3rd World Conference of Disaster Risk A lot of common strands emerge from these statements such as the need for Reduction (WCDRR) was a perfect local level planning in DRR; promotion of risk sensitive development; integrating climate change adaptation with risk reduction; consolidating opportunity to focus on such voices. upon the progress of HFA and enhancing international cooperation to build This issue of Southasiadisasters.net a safer world. Moreover, it was unanimously agreed upon by all the South highlights the country statements Asian countries that the synergies between the SFDRR, the Climate Change issued by the dispensations of negotiations and Sustainable Development Goals be leveraged to engender various South Asian nations at the sustainability in the present systems and processes of DRR. 3rd WCDRR. A compendium of these statements helps in The UN Secretary-General recently drew the attention of the world to the fact that an annual investment of USD 6 billion in DRR could lead to savings understanding the South Asian in the vicinity of USD 360 billion. This implies widespread cooperation and perspective on DRR. These country sharing of resources, technology and manpower to cultivate a global culture statements also list out the of preparedness. The first step towards this vision starts from South Asia, achievements of these nations in which is one of the most vulnerable regions of the world. This booklet is an making their countries and attempt to present a regional South Asian perspective and vision on DRR as communities safer to the various enunciated by its leaders. – Mihir R. Bhatt risks they are exposed to. A lot of common strands emerge from these country statements that can and they have been listed as a 'Way Ahead' towards the end of this issue. This issue is a must read for all who are interested in understanding the DRR aspirations and apprehensions of South Asia. Source of speeches: http://www.wcdrr.org/ conference/programme/statements Photo: AIDMI. 2 southasiadisasters.net April 2015 Regional Cooperation for a Resilient South Asia Country Statement by His Excellency Rajnath Singh, Minister of Home Affairs, India Excellency, Ladies and Gentlemen! It gives me immense pleasure to be a part of the Indian delegation for the Third World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction. On behalf of the Government and the people of India, I wish to congratulate the United Nations and the host, the Government of Japan, for organizing this event. The Hyogo Framework for Action has provided a blue print for disaster risk reduction activities including promotion of culture of prevention, mitigation, preparedness and resilience at all levels. Since then, Photo credits: www.rajnathsingh.in considerable progress has been made The UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) Head Ms Margareta Wahlstrom by investing resources and enhancing meets the HM Rajnath Singh at WCDRR in Sendai. capacities in dealing with the disasters. However, much needs to be done in the future. We are pleased to policies, practices and partnerships and children, exposed to these events note that the post–2015 framework for implementation. are trying to adapt to these regular has provided us a practical and useful occurrences, the economic and social document with people–centered Recent events in India such as the costs continue to mount year after preventive approach to disaster risk. landslides and floods of 2013 in the year. In this context, we believe that This would contribute to the reduction Himalayan State of Uttarakhand, there is a need to actively build of disaster risks and strengthen cyclone 'Phailin' in Odisha in 2013, the synergies among the DRR resilience of the poor and the most floods and landslides in Jammu & framework, the climate change vulnerable. We need to take risk Kashmir and cyclone 'Hudhud' in adaptation framework and the informed decisions while making Andhra Pradesh in 2014 have once sustainable development framework public and private investments. again brought into focus the need for to ensure that our collective efforts Mainstreaming disaster risk multiplying our efforts towards enable us to create a safe, secure and reduction in development disaster risk reduction. In addition, disaster–free environment. programmes and community Typhoon 'Haiyan' in Philippines in resilience building are some of the 2014, Ludian and Yutian Earthquakes In India, our ancestors gave us the noteworthy features in the new in China in 2014 and extreme weather concept of 'Vasudhaiva framework. Indeed, the concurrent events in United States of America Kutumbakam', which means that the post–2015 focus on sustainable and South Canada have taken place whole planet — with all its human development, climate change and in the world. The unplanned beings, plants, animal, birds and disaster risk would further provide development of cities and lack of natural resources — is one family. the international community with a proper infrastructure are the major This ancient realisation of our inter– unique opportunity to ensure challenges of the future. While connectedness is even more relevant coherence and alignment across communities, particularly women and urgent today. I would like to call April 2015 southasiadisasters.net 3 upon this august gathering to meteorological disasters in the proceeds between the federal embrace this notion and enhance region. Our National Disaster government and the states, in its international cooperation through Response Force which has the recent report has called for hazard, sharing of technology, expertise and expertise in addressing national risk and vulnerability assessment in necessary resources. Here I would disasters also attends to disasters in all our states. This will be critical first also like to reiterate the commitment the region and beyond. The National step in ensuring that over time, made by our Prime Minister in Institute of Disaster Management notions of risk reduction are SAARC Summit last year by ensuring organizes trainings on various embedded in every penny we spend India's help and expertise to the thematic domains of disaster risk on development. We are promoting neighbouring countries. management. We are keen to share cooperative federalism and our expertise and help other countries devolving more power and resources India hosts the SAARC Disaster in disaster response and capacity closer to the ground of action. Management Centre which is building. We envisage a bigger role working towards putting in place a in capacity building in the Asia Pacific Before concluding, we pledge our framework to reduce disaster risks region and look forward to build support to the post–2015 Framework, and promoting knowledge sharing sustained regional and international its goals and priorities. We commit among the SAARC countries. The partnerships under the post–2015 ourselves to work with countries in Indian National Centre for Ocean Framework. the region and beyond in building Information Services operates the resilient nations and communities, Tsunami Early Warning System. This I would like to share that the against disasters. We would also like is a State–of–the–Art warning system Government of India has to call upon all entities, public and which benefits not only India but also mainstreamed disaster risk reduction private, to strengthen the the littoral countries of Indian Ocean. in its development policies at all international support mechanisms As a part of SAARC Monsoon