Topic: UN's response to Natural Disasters
Country: Sudan
Delegate Name: Connor Buhl
School: Fishers High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Sudan position papers GLIMUN 2013 committees
The Republic of Sudan believes that prevention of and response to natural disasters is integral to many countries including it. Sudan itself has problem with flooding, drought, and other natural disasters in the past. As recently as September, communities such as Khartoum have been affected by floods that devastated an unprepared community. Flooding does not usually occur in places such as Khartoum and therefore the community was not ready for the extensive disaster. Waters even rushed into areas the United Nations does not normally support. Two of the main problems were that the people were simply not ready, and there was no health center nearby to provide aid. Another natural disaster that has affected Sudan in the past has been drought and in this case there was nobody or not enough people to provide aid to the dry agriculture centers.
The international community can learn from situations such as this and make sure they do not occur again. While we cannot stop drought, hurricanes, floods, or tornadoes, we can work together to deal with the aftermaths. It is selfish for countries to sit and watch as other countries are ravaged by natural disasters. The Republic of Sudan would like to thank the United Nations and its dedicated workers who bravely work to provide much needed aid to areas affected by natural disasters. We would also like to call for an increase in workers both on Salary by the United Nations and volunteers. To minimize casualties in disaster situations people are needed as volunteers and workers to provide medical care, search and rescue survivors, and of course help clean up the debris left by the disaster. Of course other than that there is the topic of being prepared for said natural disasters. Any meteorological studies to help predict the patterns of natural disasters and evacuate areas before they are affected would serve as additional preparedness for storms.
The Republic of Sudan would like to propose mass funding to committees and organizations that work to prevent natural disasters. In terms of countries however, it is better to send both people and money to countries affected by natural disasters as sending money alone can simply be used by the government for purposes other than helping their people in need. However the government will of course be able to allocate any financial aid sent to them specifically humanitarian associations and organizations will require funding in advance to prepare workers, educate people on proper actions during natural disasters and training personnel to operate meteorological equipment. With newly arising information, such as climate change, natural disasters may become less predictable than they are now and we need people who are able to work around this as well as financial means of mending what has been lost.
http://www.unocha.org/top-stories/all-stories/sudan-un-emergency-funds-bolster-support-flood-hit-communities
