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Red
Cross and Red Crescent tsunami action brings unprecedented investment
in risk reduction 5 March 2005 Twenty four hours after yet another significant earthquake shook Indonesia and underlined the risks in the Indian Ocean Basin, a Red Cross and Red Crescent summit announced unprecedented efforts to place survivors of last December’s devastating tsunami out of harm’s way. Without disaster preparedness, the organization said, ongoing relief efforts and long-term programmes would be undermined. “We cannot stop natural disaster but we can reduce risks to a minimum,” said Johan Schaar, Special Representative for the tsunami operation of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. “We can save tens of thousands of tomorrow’s victims today.” His comments came at the conclusion of a three-day tsunami forum in Hong Kong which sought a long-term plan of action for the stricken region. Alongside a strategy to help devastated communities back on their feet again, representatives of 50 national Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, as well as the International Federation and the International Committee of the Red Cross, agreed on ways to better protect those in peril against future catastrophes. “The concern and generosity of people around the world provides an enormous challenge and responsibility,” said Schaar. “Clearly those who gave did so to help people recover but they also want us to do all we can to prevent human suffering from occurring. They would rather that we save lives than pick up bodies.” The Red Cross and Red Crescent hopes the lead it is giving will persuade the international community to follow suit with global action. Despite much discussion on disaster preparedness and risk reduction, states have so far not mobilized significant and sustainable action. A World Conference on Disaster Reduction in Kobe, Japan, in January brought commitment on the rapid provision of hardware for an Indian Ocean early-warning system and placed other essential preparedness issues on the international agenda. But states attending did not frame a plan with clear targets for a substantial reduction of death and suffering from natural disasters by 2015 that the Red Cross and Red Crescent had called for. The International Federation had argued for more resources to build community resilience and preparedness, and help communities themselves to reduce risks and withstand natural disaster. “We cannot wait,” Johan Schaar said today. “We are pushing ahead with disaster preparedness plans as part of our overall strategy. We sincerely hope that when the United Nations provides its members with another opportunity to act at a meeting of the Economic and Social Commission this summer, our unprecedented move will be of influence.” The Hong Kong forum produced a framework to guide future phases of Red Cross and Red Crescent operations in the tsunami-affected countries which, since December 26, have mobilized 22,000 volunteers in life-saving and relief efforts that so far have assisted more than 700,000 people. The disaster – caused by an earthquake reclassified recently at 9.3 on the Richter scale, the second largest in recorded history – left at least 286,000 people dead and 130,000 missing, 1.6 million displaced, and, in Indonesia alone, 1.8 million without livelihood. While continuing to provide humanitarian assistance as long as is necessary, the Red Cross and Red Crescent will develop a range of recovery programmes ranging from large-scale reconstruction projects in health, housing and social infrastructure to community-level activities. Johan Schaar commented, “Strengthening community resilience and empowering communities to respond in times of crisis by placing disaster risk reduction at the centre of regional plans is an extremely critical element. Returning people to what was the status quo just isn’t good enough.” International Federation Secretary General Markku Niskala commented, “It was critical we came together at this time to take stock of the situation, share lessons learned from the relief operations to date and ensure continued coordination as we move into the recovery and rehabilitation phases.” For further information, or to set up interviews, please contact: Siân Bowen, Head of Media Service Tel. + 41 79 217 33 88 John Sparrow, Regional Information Delegate Tel. + 86 13 50 12 05 972 Hong Kong mobile + 852 9863 5557 Media Service duty phone Tel. + 41 79 416 3881 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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