The day before this conference began I stood representing the
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
and our worldwide network of National Societies at a memorial
ceremony in the presence of Their Majesties the Emperor and
the Empress of Japan, in silence, to remember those who died
when the Great Hanshin-Awaji earthquake devastated this city
ten years ago.
Our grief was multiplied by the emotion we all felt, surrounded
by news of the loss of more than 225,000 lives and the unspeakable
suffering of millions of people after the Asian earthquakes
and tsunamis.
This conference has brought together the biggest gathering ever
of experience and knowledge on disaster reduction. Many of the
presentations and judgements were given much greater relevance
by the fact that at the same time the largest disaster relief
and recovery operation ever was in progress.
Our task now is to work with partners, including civil society
organisations with a strong community base to find ways to transform
the encouraging statements made by Governments in their plenary
statements into the concrete action which has been demanded,
but not yet framed.
We will be advocating for clear political commitment on some
particular issues - such as firm targets and indicators - when
the next stages of decision-making debate take place.
Another concern is the need for commitment for more resources
to build community resilience and preparedness. Only with this
can people themselves reduce risks and withstand natural disaster.
It is essential also that risk reduction measures should be
brought into development strategies and programmes. This is
a program entirely consistent with the Goals of the United Nations
Millennium Declaration.
We believe that the large number of participants attracted by
this Conference, and the vigour with which they pursued these
and other important issues in the plenaries and the parallel
events is a sign that the political commitment we are seeking
can and will be found.
So we congratulate you, Mr Chairman, the organisers, and of
course our generous hosts the Government of Japan, for the progress
which has been made in the identification of the way forward.
We are sure that your energy will help all participants remain
committed to the finalisation of the work which has started.
The conference may be over but the work will continue.
2005 must be remembered not only for the aftermath of one of
the world's most catastrophic events but also as a watershed
in disaster reduction. As 1995 - and Kobe - was Japan's.
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