January 22, 2005 (4:00 p.m. EST)
No. 15
CANADA APPLAUDS OUTCOME OF WORLD CONFERENCE
ON DISASTER REDUCTION
The Government
of Canada today welcomed the outcome, including the Hyogo Framework for Action,
of the second World Conference on Disaster Reduction, which took place in Kobe,
Japan from January 18 to 22, 2005.
The Conference
outlined a 10-year framework for action that promotes disaster reduction and
ties it to the international aid and sustainable development agendas of
developed and developing countries. A consensus was also reached on
establishing a global multi-hazard warning system, including a tsunami early
warning system for the Indian Ocean.
"Canada
is committed to implementing the Framework for Action and welcomes the
establishment of the early warning system," said Foreign Affairs Minister
Pierre Pettigrew. "The devastation in the Caribbean and more recently
the earthquake and tsunami that affected countries in Africa and Asia have
reminded the international community of the critical importance of disaster
preparedness and mitigation. It is both timely and encouraging that the
international community has come together to agree on a framework for action
that will promote efforts to reduce the
impact of disasters around the world and help communities better prepare for
them."
During the
Conference, Canada announced through the Canadian International Development
Agency (CIDA) that $1 million will go to the United Nations Development Program
in 2005 for its disaster reduction project. CIDA also announced that a further
$1 million will go to the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red
Crescent for disaster preparedness and capacity building.
"The
impact of natural disasters on developing countries is disproportionately
great," said Minister of International Cooperation Aileen Carroll. "The
programs CIDA is supporting with the funding announced at the conference will
help to integrate disaster reduction into development planning and programming,
as well as build the capacity of vulnerable communities, countries and regions
to prepare for and mitigate the impacts of natural disasters."
The Government
of Canada also indicated that, through Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
Canada (PSEPC), it will work with provinces, territories and stakeholders to
develop and implement an effective National Disaster Mitigation Strategy. The
Strategy seeks to focus Canadian efforts at all levels of government and is
aimed at reducing risks and the impact of natural disasters. Canada's follow-up
to the conference also includes discussions on disaster mitigation at a conference
of federal, provincial and territorial ministers on emergency management from
January 23 to 25.
"The
Government of Canada looks forward to working with all concerned stakeholders,
within and outside government, to address the challenges we face in implementing
an effective disaster mitigation strategy," said Anne McLellan, Deputy
Prime Minister and Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness.
Canada's
delegation to the conference was led by Paul Kennedy, PSEPC Senior Assistant
Deputy Minister, and included technical experts from Natural Resources Canada,
Foreign Affairs Canada, CIDA, Environment Canada and the Public Health Agency
of Canada. It also included representatives from the University of Toronto, the
Canadian Red Cross and the University of Manitoba's Natural Resources
Institute.
More
information on Canada's participation in the World Conference on Disaster
Reduction, including Canada's statement, is available at http://www.international.gc.ca.
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For further
information, media representatives may contact:
SŽbastien ThŽberge
Director of
Communications
Office of the
Minister of Foreign Affairs
(613) 995-1851
Media
Relations Office
Foreign
Affairs Canada
(613) 995-1874
http://www.international.gc.ca
Media
Relations
Public Safety
and Emergency Preparedness Canada
(613) 991-0657
Andrew Graham
Director of
Communications
Office of the
Minister of International Cooperation
(819)953-6238
Media
Relations Office
Canadian
International Development Agency (CIDA)
(819) 953-6534
info@acdi-cida.gc.ca
