| UN: Buck Up To Tackle Natural Disasters |
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NEW DELHI, Nov 4 (Bernama) -- The United Nations (UN) has highlighted that many countries are still ill-prepared to address natural disasters, despite numerous tragedies that have wrecked economies and destroyed millions of livelihoods of communities around the globe.
"The poorest among the poorest continue to suffer heavy losses, their development investments are undermined. We need to scale up, learn more about earthquake science and focus on best practices to mitigate damage," UN assistant secretary-general for Disaster Risk Reduction Margareta Wahlstorm said on Wednesday.
Speaking at the 2nd India Natural Disaster Management Congress in Delhi, she told a galaxy of scientists, academics and policy makers that more governments were now sensitised about natural calamities but still there were shortcomings.
"Scientists and policy makers need to speak to each other. We need to hear the grassroots and communities on the ground because they have better knowledge. They know where to build a bridge or where not to build.
"We cannot continue to blame nature for disasters. Now, we know of vulnerabilities and have enough knowledge to mitigate damage on human beings," she added.
She said developed and developing countries continued to be victims of natural hazards and damage continued to escalate, with increasing losses suffered by economies and properties.
In 1975, total global damage due to natural calamities was estimated at US$5 billion (RM17.5 billion) but shot up to US$200 billion (RM700 billion) in 2001.
The three-day seminar is organised by the National Institute of Disaster Management.
-- BERNAMA
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