UNISDR Asia Partnership Forum shares updates in disaster risk reduction

Bangkok, Thailand – 14 - 15 December 2017 – The UNISDR Asia Partneship Forum (IAP), attended by participants from the Asia region, UN agencies, CSOs, international organizations, inter-regional institutions and private sectors, focused on sharing global and regional updates in disaster risk reduction. The IAP was initiated in 2004 as an informal multi-stakeholder forum to facilitate the implementation of disaster risk reduction, and the subsequent Hyogo Framework for Action in Asia. Since then, the Forum has evolved into the support mechanism for the biennial Asia Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (AMCDRR). 

The discussions included the assessment of progress made in the implementation of the Asia Regional Plan and stakeholders commitments, update on the plans and status of preparations for the AMCDRR in Mongolia in July 2018 and the ways to enhance the understanding of the Sendai Framework Monitor.

The representative of the Government of India chaired the first session on the progress in the Implementation of the Sendai Framework and the Asia Regional Plan for Implementing the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction. The representatives of UNISDR and UNESCAP briefly introduced the Regional Plan and Road Map for Disaster Risk Reduction in line with the SDGs.  

The second session on Progress in Disaster Risk Reduction was moderated by the Mongolian representatives during which delegates from participating governments delivered their reports on the progress made at national level.

At the third session, the representatives of intergovernmental and regional organizations, other stakeholders and UN agencies provided updates on the progress made in disaster risk reduction. 

Mr. Yang Youlin, Coordinator of the UNCCD Asia Regional Coordination Unit in meeting with some delegates and representatives of UN agencies proposed that the forum should consider the dust/sand storms and drought issues for inclusion on the agenda of AMCDRR 2018 which will take place 16-19 July 2019, in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. 

The Sendai Priorities discussed by the Forum working groups included:

•    Understanding disaster risk
•    Disaster risk governance
•    Investing in disaster risk reduction for resilience
•    Preparedness and build-back-better
•    Sendai Framework Monitoring
•    Coherence of 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

The session also reviewed brief reports on three main developments and key challenges in the implementation of the Asia Regional Plan.

The Asia-Pacific region is among the most disaster-prone regions in the world. In the last ten years, the region faced over 2 600 disasters causing around 385 000 deaths and affecting over 1.7 billion people.