NAM Supports the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction

Non-Aligned Movement has stressed on the importance of disaster risk reduction as it has direct impacts on achieving sustainable development, especially in developing countries. As such, NAM has welcomed the adoption of Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 adopted by UN Member States on 18 March 2015 at the Third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in Sendai City, Japan, which is the is the first major agreement of the post-2015 development agenda, with seven targets and four priorities for action.

The seven global targets in the Sendai Framework are the to substantially reduce global disaster mortality by 2030, aiming to lower average per 100,000 global mortality rate in the decade 2020-2030 compared to the period 2005-2015, substantially reduce the number of affected people globally by 2030, aiming to lower average global figure per 100,000 in the decade 2020 -2030 compared to the period 2005-2015, reduce direct disaster economic loss in relation to global gross domestic product (GDP) by 2030, substantially reduce disaster damage to critical infrastructure and disruption of basic services, among them health and educational facilities, including through developing their resilience by 2030, substantially increase the number of countries with national and local disaster risk reduction strategies by 2020, substantially enhance international cooperation to developing countries through adequate and sustainable support to complement their national actions for implementation of this Framework by 2030 and substantially increase the availability of and access to multi-hazard early warning systems and disaster risk information and assessments to the people by 2030.

The four priorities for action outlined in the Sendai Framework are to prevent new and reduce existing disaster risks are understanding disaster risk, strengthening disaster risk governance to manage disaster risk, investing in disaster reduction for resilience and enhancing disaster preparedness for effective response and to “Build Back Better” in recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction. NAM Member States have been adopting the Sendai Framework in their disaster risk reduction program and a few such examples are cited below.

On June 1, 2016, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi released India’s first ever National Disaster Plan based on the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction. The plan is based on the four priority themes of the Sendai Framework, namely understanding disaster risk, improving disaster risk governance, investing in disaster risk reduction (through structural and non-structural measures) and disaster preparedness, early warning and building back better in the aftermath of a disaster. Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju is participating in the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (GPDRR) at Cancun, Mexico from May 22-26, 2017 mentioned that India has put in place systems for monitoring progress and taking practical steps towards achievement of Sendai targets. The patterns of disaster mortality had been identified, both spatially and temporally for different hazards. Steps were taken to reduce cyclone related mortality as well as heat wave related deaths. The Indian Minister also stated that India was on course towards achieving the target of the Sendai framework pertaining to development of plans and strategies by 2020. On 7th May, 2017, India had launched South Asia Geostationary Communication Satellite with an aim to support and improve communication, weather forecasting, natural resource mapping, disaster information transfer etc. among the South Asian countries, which demonstrates India’s strong sense of commitment towards the Sendai Framework.

A number of NAM Member States in Latin American and Caribbean countries have set out of implement the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction into a regional declaration. In this context, the Declaration of Guatemala within the Sendai Framework is the benchmark for comprehensive risk management in the post-2015 global developmental agenda and the “main guideline for a comprehensive approach to disaster risk management in promoting sustainable development”.

In Africa, a number of NAM Member States have agreed on a strategic plan to align disaster risk reduction with the priorities and targets of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction. Mauritius Declaration on the Implementation of the Sendai Framework in Africa adopted in November 2016 calls for implementation of the Programme of Action and the allocation of budgetary support to disaster risk reduction, and also stresses a need for promoting south-south, north-south and triangular cooperation for enhancing and consolidating disaster resilience in Africa.

By Dr. Ankit Srivastava