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Red
Cross Red Crescent appoints Swedish aid chief to lead tsunami operations 20 January 2005 Johan Schaar, 54, Head of Humanitarian Assistance and Conflict Management with the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA) has been appointed to lead the Asian tsunami operations of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. Within hours of his appointment, Schaar, who is attending the World Conference on Disaster Reduction in Kobe, Japan, called on the international community to pledge far greater investment in disaster preparedness and risk reduction to prevent tragedy from happening in the region again. With some states attending the conference hesitant to commit to clear targets, Schaar said: “It would be difficult to accept that the insights revealed by the tsunamis were not reflected in the outcomes document of this conference. It would be extremely sad if they did not spur an ambitious plan of action.” “For many governments the importance of this conference increased enormously with the tsunamis as we can see from the level of attendance. It should be a sign of greater political commitment. Such suffering may not pass unheeded.” Time was running out in Kobe, he said, where the conference closes on Saturday. Schaar has a distinguished Red Cross background. Before joining SIDA, he had held senior Swedish Red Cross posts and had worked for the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement in Asia. From 1997 to 2000, he was the International Federation’s regional head for Southeast Asia. As Special Representative for Tsunami Operations he will coordinate the largest operation in the history of the Red Cross and Red Crescent, and lead a newly-created department. Johan Schaar will take up his post in early February and tour the affected countries in preparation for a major Red Cross and Red Crescent tsunami conference in Hong Kong at the end of the month. Red Cross and Red Crescent assistance to devastated Asian communities is anticipated to span more than five years from the immediate relief effort, through longer-term relief to recovery initiatives, rehabilitation, disaster preparedness programmes and reconstruction. Schaar said today: “The public and governments have entrusted us with tremendous resources and there would appear to be some expectations that they should be spent immediately. But our experience is that while immediate needs must be covered the challenge is to sustain the effort, plan for good recovery and reconstruction, and use the opportunity to reduce risk to this region in the longer term.” For further information, or to set up interviews, please contact: In Kobe: Eva M. Calvo, Press Officer: Tel: +81 90-2930-3892 (mobile) John Sparrow, Regional Information Delegate Tel: +81 80-5413-7583 (mobile) Mori Masanao, Japanese Red Cross: Tel. +81 90-4814-4146 In Geneva: Siân Bowen, Head, Media Service Tel. + 41 22 730 44 28 / + 41 79 217 33 88 Media Service duty phone Tel. + 41 79 416 38 81 The Geneva-based International Federation promotes the humanitarian activities of 181 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies among vulnerable people. By coordinating international disaster relief and encouraging development support, it seeks to prevent and alleviate human suffering. The Federation, National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross together, constitute the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. © International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies |
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