International Cooperation in Disaster Management

India has played a crucial role in global initiatives on disaster management. It is leading the way in building the global economy through multi-faceted initiatives and expertise.

Hyogo Framework of Action

• In January 2005, representatives from 168 countries gathered in Kobe, Japan for a global conference on disaster risk reduction
• Hyogo Framework of Action (HFA) (2005-2015) was adopted to work on a global level for sustainable reduction of disaster related losses of lives and the social, economic and environmental assets of communities and countries
• The framework set three strategic goals given as under:
  • More effectual assimilation of disaster risk reduction into planning and programming at all levels, sustainable development policies, having a special emphasis on disaster prevention, mitigation, preparedness and reduction in vulnerability
  • At every community level, institutions, capacities, and mechanisms that can systematically contribute to increasing disaster resilience are being developed and reinforced
  • The systematic integration of risk reduction approaches into the design and application of emergency readiness, response and recovery packages in the reconstruction of the affected communities
  • Under the HFA the following priority areas have been identified for the countries to concentrate in their efforts for making the countries disaster resilient
• • Assuring that disaster risk reduction is a local and national priority with a strong institutional foundation for implementation
  • Improve early warning by recognising, assessing, and monitoring disaster risks
  • Build a culture of safety and resilience at all levels by utilising knowledge, innovation, and education
  • Minimize the underlying risk factors
  • Reinforce disaster preparedness for effective response at all levels
• India is one of the participants, and it collaborates closely with the UN-ISDR to implement the HFA for DRR Priority Areas

Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030

• Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction of 2015-2030 (Sendai Framework) was the first major agreement after-2015 development agenda and provides the Member States with concrete actions to protect development gains from the risk of disaster
• The Third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in 2015, the UN General Assembly approved it (WCDRR)
• It aims to reduce disaster risk and harm to lives, livelihoods, and health, as well as to people’s, businesses’, communities’, and countries’ economic, physical, social, cultural, and environmental assets, over the next 15 years
• Hyogo Framework was succeeded by Sendai Framework
• The Sendai Framework lays out seven global goals to steer and measure progress. The following are the seven global goals:
  •  Greatly reduce global disaster mortality by 2030, aiming to lower the average per 100,000 worldwide mortality rate in the decade of 2020–2030 compared to the period 2005–2015
  • Reduce the number of individuals impacted globally by 2030, to lower the average global figure per 100,000 in the decade 2020– 2030 compared to the period 2005–2015
  • By 2030, reduce direct economic losses in terms of world gross domestic product (GDP)
  • Substantively reduce the damage due to disaster to critical infrastructure, disturbance of elementary services, health and educational facilities
  • By 2020, the number of countries having national and local disaster risk reduction policies will have increased significantly
  • Significantly improve international cooperation to emerging countries through satisfactory and sustainable support to complement their national actions for implementation of the present Framework by 2030
  • By 2030, significantly improve the readiness of multi-hazard early warning systems and people’s access to disaster risk information and assessments

United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR)

• • In December 1999, the United Nations General Assembly passed Resolution 54/219, which established the UNISDR as the successor of the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction Secretariat in 2001
  • It is designated by UNISDR to serve as the focal point for disaster management in the United Nations System and to ensure synergies between disaster reduction efforts of the United Nations Systems and regional organisations, as well as actions in the socio-economic and humanitarian domains
  • For developing the resilience of communities and nations to disasters employing operation of the HFA, the UNISDR attempts to catalyze, simplify and mobilise the commitment and resources of stakeholders in the ISDR system at the national, regional, and international levels

• The Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (GFDRR), which takes place every two years, serves as the principal global forum for a continuous and deliberate focus on disaster reduction

Conclusion

India signed a memorandum of understanding with numerous countries for responsible association against disaster.