ISLAMABAD: National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Pakistan Chairman Lieutenant General Omar Mahmood Hayat was unanimously elected as chair of the fifth session of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) committee on disaster risk reduction (DRR), in Bangkok.
In recognition of NDMA Pakistan’s leadership in the field of disaster management and its contribution in DRR activities at international arena, particularly within the Asia Pacific region, NDMA chairman was unanimously elected as the chair of the fifth session of the committee on DRR. The nomination was proposed by the delegate of the Russian Federation, which was endorsed by the delegate of Republic of Korea while the house elected him as its chair unanimously.
NDMA chairman participated with team of NDMA at the event. NDMA chairman also met with the UN Under-Secretary General and UNESCAP Executive Secretary Shamshad Akhtar. Both sides discussed matters for future cooperation in the field of DRR. Both sides also agreed to organize an international conference on disaster management in Pakistan and further enhance cooperation in areas of DRR and gender mainstreaming, protecting children and vulnerable segments of society from negative impacts and hazards of disasters.
NDMA Pakistan organized a stall in the exhibition at the United Nations Conference Center Bangkok to showcase its journey through disasters and focusing on DRR through pictorial representations. It also exhibited knowledge tools developed by the NDMA including risk atlases for the most vulnerable districts in Pakistan.
Earlier, NDMA (DRR) member Idrees Mahsud delivered a keynote address at the opening session of the UNESCAP DRR Committee Session. NDMA Pakistan also participated at expert level in the Expert Group Meetings on early warning mechanisms for river basin floods, flash floods and landslides. NDMA also attended Expert Group Meeting on risk knowledge and risk assessments and showcased its tools developed for carrying out multi hazard risk and vulnerability assessments (MHVRA).
UNESCAP launched “Asia-Pacific Disaster Report 2017” during the inaugural ceremony of the fifth session of UNESCAP committee on DRR. According to the report, Pakistan was likely to incur 3 times more losses due to disasters up to 2030. Such futuristic estimation was an eye opener and warrant urgent attention and prioritization of DRR and preparedness measures at national, provincial and local levels.
Published in Daily Times, October 12th 2017.
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