DIMAPUR, SEPT 13 (MExN): A group of Nagas were among the almost one thousand representatives of civil society, governments and the business world who participated in the International Conference on Disaster Reduction in Davos, Switzerland, on August 27 to September 1.
Having attended the conference, chairmen of the Dimapur and Kohima municipalities Tovihoto Ayemi and Menuovilie Kesiezie landed at Dimapur Airport today afternoon, where a rousing welcome awaited them.
Kesiezie informed that the experience had provided gainful insight on disaster management and that the trip had proved helpful as the municipalities had expanded their network base. Nagaland made a power point presentation and also pleaded with the Davos municipality to extend funds and technology for developmental activities.
The conference’s goal was to expand understanding of what is needed to mainstream and integrate risk management across various fields. It addressed a broad range of risks, including those relating to pandemics, terrorism, climate change and natural hazards. Risks of a technical, biological and chemical nature were also addressed.
“The conference took an integrated, multidisciplinary approach when addressing the different kinds of risks affecting society today,” Chairman of the Conference Dr Walter J Ammann says in an address.
The recent and subsequent International Disaster Reduction Conferences aim to serve as a bridge between practice, science, policy and decision making in the search for sustainable solutions to the complex risks facing society today.
The purpose was to link problems and their main causes on one hand, with governance and technology perspectives of problem solving on the other.
The declaration prepared by the participants of the conference aims to draw attention to important issues which have been discussed. The declaration is to serve as a self-commitment of all participants, expressing their will to actively support and implement the conference recommendations on a regular basis, and the international community has been called upon to join in this effort.
The approach of IDRC is that of integrated risk management across disciplines, professions and sectors encompassing natural and social sciences, engineering, and scientific understanding with business, policy responses, and citizen participation.
The conference was jointly organized by UNESCO, the Global Alliance for Disaster Reduction (GADR), Global Disaster Information Network (GDIN), and the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UN/ISDR). It follows up on a previous United Nations Conference held in Kobé, Japan in 2005. The next IDRC will be held in Harbin, China from August 21 – 25.
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