SUBMITTED TO: United Nations Development Programme
FROM: Russian Federation
Subject: Disaster Risk Reduction
Royal Oak High School
Nina Hall
According to the United Nations, over the past twenty years disasters from natural hazards have affected 4.5 billion people. The disasters have claimed 1.3 million lives and caused $2 trillion in economic losses. For the first time, disaster losses globally have topped $100 billion for three consecutive years from 2010-2012, far outstripping humanitarian aid. In many of these disasters, critics have repeatedly brought up the issue of the failure to provide adequate response. These critics recommended calling on states and international communities to shift from reactive to proactive approaches to disaster management. By doing so this would allow for a more prepared approach to many disasters that occur globally.
A main struggle for many nations after disasters is maintaining a stable socioeconomic condition. Disasters can cause the area of the economy to be vulnerable which can cause the economy to face serious issues and even the possibility that it may deteriorate. The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, UNISDR, stated two visions for disaster risk reduction around the world. They are 1 ”To enable all communities to become resilient to the effects of natural, technological and environmental hazards, reducing the compound risks they pose to social and economic vulnerabilities within modern societies.” and 2 “To proceed from protection against hazards to the management of risk through the integration of risk prevention into sustainable development.” By doing so it can bring down the total impact of some disasters and aid in the aftermath/restoration process both physically and technically.
Disaster Risk Reduction is a main part of what the UN takes care of in the General Assembly. They have worked continuously with the UNDRR ever since they founded the group in 1989. A key breakthrough for the UNDRR was recognizing the 1990’s as the “international decade for natural disaster reduction.” The work of the United Nations and the UNDRR has helped bring awareness from many countries in order for them to start taking action. In the world conference many plans were discussed and frameworks for future events and actions that would be taken were made. With these plans and the framework for many upcoming events it has helped to increase the amount of proactive plans put in place. By doing so it can help with the protection of infrastructure but most importantly the lives of citizens.
Russia is willing to comply with any possible solutions or resolutions brought about in committee. Furthermore, as a nation we are willing to draft plans and are willing to negotiate into any aid or relief that would go to efforts to assemble task forces, increasing action plans and endorsing any organizations that are specialized in Disaster Risk Reduction. Our biggest concern with natural disasters is the safety of civilians and preventing unstable infrastructures after hazards affect an area causing damage which inevitably causes many financial issues.
Sources
https://ciaonet.org/record/48790?search=1
https://www.unisdr.org/2005/wcdr/wcdr-index.htm
https://www.oxfamamerica.org/press/vulnerability-to-disaster-highlighted-in-new-report/
- Nina Hall
