Quality infrastructure is recognized as a crucial element of a high-functioning society by all countries. However, what many of these nations have not considered is the given infrastructure’s ability to withstand severe disasters primarily caused by nature. An unexpected calamity will not only be costly to recover from but will also halt much of the working force which will further hurt the country’s economy. Not only is it important to create durable infrastructure but to also be able to respond effectively to the damage post-disaster. With debris-filled roads, downed power lines and communication technology, as well as crammed hospitals, a plan must be put in place to mitigate the array of issues at hand. Special personnel will be needed for completing a multitude of tasks such as transporting injured civilians to a location where they can receive proper medical attention.
Brazil has certainly taken into account the cruciality of a resilient infrastructure and increasingly so since the 2011 floods in Rio de Janeiro, which caused several billion in damage. Annually, Brazil faces $3.9 billion in losses due to natural disasters. The bulk of these damages come from the poor housing that millions in Brazil live within. Houses developed on floodplains are frequently destroyed and mudslides have taken many lives. Brazil has therefore focused large amounts of resources towards more stable dams and better housing development. With better living conditions for the poor, children can focus on education and eventually give back to society. The aforementioned issues are the most urgent natural disaster threats to our nation and we are appropriately responding to them with funds and research to that area. The Brazilian government also is aware that countries that are geographically near our nation suffer from the same issues and we would therefore like to suggest possible solutions.
Brazil proposes that research centers with atmospheric radar tracking systems as well as seismographs be strategically placed across the world to be able to notify civilians of advancing disasters in an effort to minimize the loss of life. It would also be beneficial to have UN Peacekeepers provide on-ground support for the countries that are short of help after a disaster. Brazil would like to open up the idea of increased funding for infrastructure to the countries that desperately need it during the conference. Brazil looks forward to working closely with nations facing similar issues such as Paraguay and Colombia, and will also be speaking with nations that have more funding power such as the United States and Germany.
- Josh Glynn
