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ASSISTANT SECRETARY GENERAL RAMDIN EXPLAINED OAS EFFORTS TO FIGHT NATURAL DISASTERS AT UN CONFERENCE IN GENEVA

The Assistant Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), Ambassador Albert Ramdin, explained Tuesday the efforts promoted and coordinated by the institution to fight the effects of natural disasters in the hemisphere, during the plenary meeting of the Second Session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction, organized by the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland.

Ambassador Ramdin explained with “satisfaction” that “OAS member states have been increasingly involved in supporting and reforming and strengthening existing hemispheric multilateral mechanisms and instruments” regarding the issue.

Nowadays, according to Ambassador Ramdin, disaster reduction “is critical to the socio-economic development of our nations and the well-being of their peoples”. It is therefore essential to understand that “the challenge of natural disaster risk reduction is a hemispheric one and therefore requires the fullest attention of political leaders.”

Assistant Secretary General Ramdin explained that “from the perspective of the Organization of American States there is little doubt that dealing with the challenges of disaster risk reduction requires a holistic perspective. We believe that risk reduction should be an integral component of strategic development programming and of sound governance.”

He also explained that “we have to continue advocating partnerships and alliances within and between societies to more effectively coordinate efforts, mobilize resources and implement recovery and reconstruction programs.”

Supporting his words, Ambassador Ramdin mentioned several initiatives started and coordinated by the OAS, such as the Inter-American Strategic Plan for Policy on Vulnerability Reduction, Risk Management and Disaster Response (IASP), the Inter-American Committee on Natural Disaster Reduction (IACNDR), and the working group on natural disaster risk reduction created at the recent 39th OAS General Assembly in San Pedro Sula, Honduras.

The Assistant Secretary General reiterated the need for the Regional Platform for Disaster Reduction in the Americas to be institutionalized as the main instrument to fight natural disasters, with the purpose of linking “global efforts with regional initiatives through a clear and strong articulation.”

According to Ambassador Ramdin, the Platform should integrate all Inter-American Organizations, all relevant regional Inter-governmental Organizations, all relevant UN System agencies, development banks, International Financial Institutions, universities and other academic institutions.

Furthermore, Ambassador Ramdin stressed that the OAS is “a trusted partner in support of global and regional natural disaster risk reduction objectives, initiatives and programs.”

“We look forward to continuing this collaboration with UNISDR (UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction) and partners of the Inter-American and UN Systems aiming to improve the lives of our most vulnerable communities in the Western Hemisphere,” he said.

The Second Session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction was opened by the UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon. In Geneva, Ambassador Ramdin also met with Margareta Wahlstrom, Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator and Special Representative of the U.N. Secretary-General for the implementation of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction.

Reference: E-196/09