AFRICA-ARAB ON DISASTER RISK REDUCTION OCT 2018 TUNISIA

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AFRICA-ARAB ON DISASTER RISK REDUCTION OCT 2018 TUNISIA

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https://www.unisdr.org/conference/2018/afrp-acdrr




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]Africa, Arab States to deliver on Sendai
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UNISDR head, Mami Mizutori, speaking at the closing ceremony of the joint Africa-Arab States Platform on Disaster Risk Reduction in Tunis

By Denis McClean
TUNIS, 14 October, 2018 - The first joint Africa-Arab States Platform on Disaster Risk Reduction closed this weekend with a commitment by over 60 UN member States to step up action on reducing disaster losses and work together in the face of common challenges.
The challenges were listed in the Communique of the Chair on Africa-Arab Cooperation on Disaster Risk Reduction as "risk drivers such as the consequences of poverty and inequality, climate change and variability, unplanned and rapid urbanization, poor land management and compounding factors such as demographic change."
They also vowed to "seize the opportunity of post-conflict reconstruction to build back better by investing in resilient and accessible infrastructure, following the example of the African and Arab Governments that are integrating disaster risk reduction into national and sectoral investment planning under the responsibility of Central Finance and Planning Ministries."
The Platform closed on International Day for Disaster Reduction which took as its theme #ResilienceForAll and a focus on reducing economic losses from disasters.
This followed the release of a UNISDR report mid-week which showed that $3 trillion in economic losses over the last twenty years may be the tip of the iceberg as economic data is not available for 63% of recorded disaster events.
Tunisian Minister for Local Affairs and the Environment, Dr. Riadh Mouakhar, presented the joint Communique which spelled out a commitment by all countries in the two regions to improve the collection of data on disaster losses through the Sendai Framework Monitor which was launched in March this year.
They have also agreed to put national and local strategies for disaster risk reduction in place over the next two years. The 2020 deadline is set out in the global plan for reducing disaster losses, the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.
The Communique on Africa-Arab Cooperation on DRR was issued following adoption of the Tunis Declaration on Accelerating the Sendai Framework and the African Regional Strategy for DRR, and, separately, the adoption of the Tunis Declaration of the 4th Arab Conference for Disaster Risk Reduction.
The Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Disaster Risk Reduction, Mami Mizutori, told the closing ceremony, “UNISDR has a special responsibility to UN member States as custodian of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.
“It is encouraging therefore to hear the very concrete steps which Africa and the Arab States are now taking towards achieving the seven targets, particularly reducing loss of life, the numbers of disaster-affected people, economic losses and damage to critical infrastructure.
“It has been a successful experiment to hold a joint meeting of the two regions given the common challenges you face. Your commitment to collaborate recognizes the fact that disasters know no borders.”
Ambassador Josefa Sacko, Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture, African Union, said that the African Union will work with partners to implement the Sendai Framework, build capacity, promote legislative change and strengthen early warning systems.
“The African Union will seek to collaborate on achieving sustainable development informed by disaster risk reduction. Disasters do not make any distinction between borders and continents.”
The Assistant Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, Mr. Abellatif Abid, highlighted the use of technology and social media to deepen understanding of disaster risk. He also emphasized the need to empower local authorities in the area of disaster risk management.
Mr. Romain Darbellay, Director of Cooperation, Embassy of Switzerland, Tunis, extended an invitation to participants to attend the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction in Geneva, in May 2019 which will take place under the theme “Resilience Dividend - Towards Sustainable and Resilient Societies”
“Without disaster and climate risk management development cannot be sustainable. The topics you have discussed here are closely linked to the discussions planned in Geneva. The outcomes of these Regional Platforms feed into the Global Platform and High Level Political Forum in 2019.”
UN 20-year review: earthquakes and tsunamis kill more people while climate change is driving up economic losses


GENEVA, 10 October 2018 – The last twenty years have seen a dramatic rise of 151% in direct economic losses from climate-related disasters, according to a report released today by the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction in advance of International Day for Disaster Reduction on October 13.
In the period 1998-2017, disaster-hit countries reported direct economic losses of US$2,908 billion of which climate-related disasters accounted for US$2,245 billion or 77% of the total.
This compares with total reported losses for the period 1978-1997 of US$1,313 billion of which climate-related disasters accounted for US$895 billion or 68%.
In terms of occurrences, climate-related disasters also dominate the picture, accounting for 91% of all 7,255 major recorded events between 1998 and 2017. Floods, 43.4%, and storms, 28.2%, are the two most frequently occurring disasters.
The greatest economic losses have been experienced by the USA, US$ 944.8 billion; China, US$492.2 billion; Japan, US$376.3 billion; India, US$ 79.5 billion; and Puerto Rico, US$ 71.7 billion. Storms, floods and earthquakes place three European countries in the top ten for economic losses: France, US$48.3 billion; Germany, US57.9 billion; and Italy, US$56.6 billion. Thailand, US$ 52.4 billion, and Mexico, US$ 46.5 billion, complete the list.
During this period, 1.3 million people lost their lives and 4.4 billion people were injured, rendered homeless, displaced or in need of emergency assistance. 563 earthquakes, including related tsunamis, accounted for 56% of total deaths or 747,234 lives lost.



The report “Economic Losses, Poverty and Disasters 1998-2017” drills down into the Emergency Events Database (EM-DAT) maintained by the Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters (CRED) at the Catholic University of Louvain, Belgium.
A key target of the global plan to reduce disaster losses, the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, is to reduce economic losses from disasters and the report highlights the fact that 63% of disaster reports contain no economic data.
Another key highlight is the disproportionate impact of disaster events on low and middle-income countries even if high-income countries bear the brunt of absolute economic losses.
Only one high-income territory ranked among the “top ten” in terms of annual average percentage losses relative to GDP, Puerto Rico, 12.2%. Moving across the globe, the others are Haiti, 17.5%; Honduras, 7%; Cuba, 4.6%; El Salvador, 4.2%; Nicaragua, 3.6%; Georgia, 3.5%; Mongolia, 2.8%; Tajikistan, 2.7%; and DPR Korea, 7.4%.
The UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Disaster Reduction, Mami Mizutori, said: “This report highlights key trends over the last 40 years. Much needs to be done to address the high number of deaths in seismic zones. The death and suffering caused by this month’s earthquake and tsunami in Indonesia brings home the need to raise public awareness and to apply high standards for construction in seismic zones.
“The report’s analysis makes it clear that economic losses from extreme weather events are unsustainable and a major brake on eradicating poverty in hazard exposed parts of the world.
“We have to do a much better job of capturing economic loss data if we are to have a fuller understanding of what works when it comes to reducing economic losses, saving lives and livelihoods, and managing disaster risk.”
While high-income countries recorded losses for 53% of reported disasters between 1998 and 2017, low-income countries only recorded them for 13% of disasters.
Professor Debarati Guha-Sapir, head of CRED, commented: “This report highlights the protection gap between rich and poor. Those who are suffering the most from climate change are those who are contributing least to greenhouse gas emissions. The economic losses suffered by low and lower-middle income countries have drastic consequences for their future development.
“Clearly there is great room for improvement in data collection on economic losses but we know from our analysis of the available data using georeferencing that people in low-income countries are six times more likely to lose all their worldly possessions or suffer injury in a disaster than people in high-income countries.”
The report concludes that climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of extreme weather events, and that disasters will continue to be major impediments to sustainable development so long as the economic incentives to build and develop hazard-prone locations outweigh the perceived disaster risks.
“Integrating disaster risk reduction into investment decisions is the most cost-effective way to reduce these risks; investing in disaster risk reduction is therefore a pre-condition for developing sustainable in a changing climate,” the report states.



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https://www.unisdr.org/conference/2018/afrp-acdrr

AFRICA-ARAB PLATFORM ON DISASTER RISK REDUCTION

المنتدى العربي الأفريقي للحد من مخاطر الكوارث
9 - 13 OCTOBER 2018 | TUNISIA



duction thttps://www.unisdr.org/conference/2018/afrp-acdrrhemed “Towards Disaster Risk Informed anhttps://www.unisdr.org/conference/2018/afrp-acdrrd inclusive sustainable development” will take place https://www.unisdr.org/conference/2018/afrp-acdrrfrom 09 to 13 OctobABOUT THE CONFERENCE
The Africa-Arab Platform on Disaster Risk Reduction themed “Towards Disaster Risk Informed and inclusive sust

AFRICA-ARAB PLATFORM ON DISASTER RISK REDUCTION
9-13 October 2018
Tunis
Africa/Tunis timezone

UNISDR-AfRP@un.org
For the first time ever, Africa and Arab States will come together to participate in the Africa-Arab Platform on Disaster Risk Reduction. The forum will be hosted by the Republic of Tunisia in cooperation with the African Union Commission (AUC), the League of Arab States (LAS) and the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) from 9 – 13 October 2018 in Tunis, Tunisia.
The objectives of the Africa-Arab Regional Platform on DRR are to take stock of progress made in the implementation of the Sendai Framework and to reaffirm political commitment to achieving its implementation and thereby contribute to the realization of Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want and Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development. The outcome of the two events will also form the basis of the two regions Common Positions at the 2019 Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction.
The Africa-Arab Regional Platform on disaster risk reduction will also provide the regions with opportunities to share knowledge, experiences and best practices in advancing disaster risk reduction in the context of the Sendai Framework.
The 7th session of Africa Regional Platform and 6th High Level Meeting, will be convened as part of the “Building Disaster Resilience to Natural Hazards in Sub-Saharan African Regions, Countries and Communities Programme”, funded by the European Union (EU) and being implemented in Africa as part of a cooperation between the European Union (EU) and the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP).
________________________________________
Please register for the conference using the "Register" link below. You will first sign up for an Indico user account (the UN conference management system). Then, you will complete registration for the conference. If you face difficulty in registration, please email UNISDR at UNISDR-AfRP@un.org
ainable development” will take place from 09 to 13 October 2018 in Tunis, Tunisia.
The United NatiHow to Register for the Africa- Arab Platform on Disaster Risk Reduction Important Notes: • Registration can only be done using Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox. Internet Explorer is not supported. • You will be required to provide passport details and upload a scan of your passport bio-data page. Your passport must be valid until at least, April 15, 2019. Step 1: Create a User Account for Indico Conference Management Site 1. Go to: https://reg.unog.ch/event/23969/ 2. Click on Register Now 3. If this is your first time on Indico and you have no user account, click on “Create Account”. 4. Fill in all the fields to create your Indico User account and click on “Confirm” – fields marked with a red asterisk are compulsory. 5. The system will automatically send you a link to activate your account - check your spam mail folder for the activation email! Activate your account using the link sent to your email address. Step 2: Register for the Africa – Arab Platform 1. Proceed to https://reg.unog.ch/event/23969/ to register for the Platform 2. Insert your Username & Password to access the registration page for the Platform. 3. Click on Register Now 4. Fill in all the fields – fields marked with a red asterisk are compulsory. Your passport must be valid until at least, April 15, 2019. 5. Once all fields are filled, you will receive a message on the screen confirming that you have successfully completed the registration process. 6. You will receive an email confirming that your registration request is being processed and verified. 7. You will receive an email to confirm that you have successfully been registered once processing is completed. Should you encounter any problems with the registration, please contact: UNISDR-AfRP@un.org. ons Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) in collaboration with the League of Arab States and the African Union Commission and hosted by the government of Tunisia, will organize the Africa-Arab Platform on Disaster Risk Reduction, which will comprise of tSAVE THE DATE Africa-Arab Platform on Disaster Risk Reduction 9 – 13 October 2018 | Tunis, Tunisia The Africa-Arab Platform on Disaster Risk Reduction themed
“Towards Disaster Risk Informed and inclusive sustainable development” will take place from 09 to 13 October 2018 in Tunis, Tunisia.
The Government of the Republic of Tunisia and United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) in collaboration with the League of Arab States and the African Union Commission will organize the Africa-Arab Platform on Disaster Risk Reduction. The event will comprise the 7th Africa Regional Platform and 6th High-Level Meeting, and the 4th Arab Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction. The Platform will provide an opportunity for governments and all stakeholders to assess the progress and reaffirm commitment towards implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 in the two regions. The platform will also enable stakeholders and partners to foster cooperation across the regions towards disaster risk informed and inclusive sustainable development; while enabling them to share knowledge, experiences and best practices in advancing disaster risk reduction. For more information and registration: • Africa Arab Platform website: https://www.unisdr.org/conference/2018/afrp-acdrr Instructions on the 2-step process of registration are attached. Should you experience any difficulties please contact: UNISDR-AfRP@un.org. he 7th Africa Regional Platform and 6th High-Level Meeting and the 4th Arab Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction.
The Platform will provide an opportunity for governments and all stakeholders to assess the progress and reaffirm
Africa-Arab Platform on Disaster Risk Reduction
MAIN ORGANIZER(S): AFRICAN UNION (AU)
UNITED NATIONS OFFICE FOR DISASTER RISK REDUCTION - REGIONAL OFFICE FOR AFRICA (UNISDR AF)
UNITED NATIONS OFFICE FOR DISASTER RISK REDUCTION - REGIONAL OFFICE FOR ARAB STATES (UNISDR ROAS)
OTHER ORGANIZER(S): LEAGUE OF ARAB STATES (LAS)


MAIN HOST(S): TUNISIA - GOVERNMENT


For the first time ever, Africa and Arab States will come together to participate in the Africa-Arab Platform on Disaster Risk Reduction. The forum will be hosted by the Republic of Tunisia in cooperation with the African Union Commission (AUC), the League of Arab States (LAS) and the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) from 9 – 13 October 2018 in Tunis, Tunisia.
The objectives of the Africa-Arab Platform on DRR are to take stock of progress made in the implementation of the Sendai Framework and to reaffirm political commitment to achieving its implementation and thereby contribute to the realization of Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want and Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development. The outcome of the two events will also form the basis of the two regions Common Positions at the 2019 Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction.
The Africa-Arab Regional Platform on disaster risk reduction will also provide the regions with opportunities to share knowledge, experiences and best practices in advancing disaster risk reduction in the context of the Sendai Framework.
The 7th session of Africa Regional Platform and 6th High Level Meeting, will be convened as part of the “Building Disaster Resilience to Natural Hazards in Sub-Saharan African Regions, Countries and Communities Programme”, funded by the European Union (EU) and being implemented in Africa as part of a cooperation between the European Union (EU) and the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP).
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