UNDP launches natural disaster report

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) recently launched in the Uzbek capital, Tashkent, a global report entitled "Reduction of catastrophe risk: the task of development". According to Eric de Mul, acting UNDP permanent representative in Uzbekistan, it is aimed at promoting disaster risk reduction through identifying appropriate development policies. "The whole idea of the report is try to explain that it is possible to mitigate or, in many cases, even to avoid a [natural] disaster [by] encouraging proper systems and correct policies. This report is important for all the countries and also for Central Asia to raise again this issue and look for ways to approve their structures and systems. Specifically, for Uzbekistan it was a good experience to launch the report in this country," he said. The report provides guidelines on how to prevent a natural catastrophe. It encourages the public and governments to strengthen preventive systems and develop new policies, while explaining the relationship between development and natural disasters, as well as mechanisms that can be used to reduce the risks. "It is clear that natural disasters slow down development because they produce a high cost, and a lot of victims. On the order hand, development also has to be done in a correct way, because if we are not careful in planning and carrying out development activities correctly, we could also cause degradation or erosion or whatever, which could also deteriorate whatever we have. The Aral Sea disaster is a clear example of this", noted de Mul. He also explained that developing countries suffer more from the consequences of natural disasters. "Looking at the statistics [11 percent of the people experiencing natural disasters live in low-developed countries, but they account for over 53 per cent of the total number of registered fatalities], they truly indicate the systems in developed countries seem to be more effective and more responsive, while in developing countries there is still a lot to be done. Though we can say that this is not the case of Uzbekistan, where the things are very well organised." "I think the system in Uzbekistan is well developed. There is a local awareness and a whole net developed of organizations that are connected to the response centre for natural disasters through a good communication system. And there are plenty of people that are having experiences with these issues. I can say that Uzbekistan is in a very good position," he asserted. Asked about the kind of natural disasters facing the Central Asian states, de Mul noted floods, droughts and the possibility of earthquakes. The authors of the report, which is available in English, French and Spanish at www.undp.org, state that nearly "75 percent of the world's population live in territories where earthquakes, cyclones, floods or droughts took place at least once a year during the period 1980 to 2000. As a result of disasters triggered by these natural hazards, more than 184 deaths per day are recorded in different parts of the world."