UN seeks to build resilience on disaster risks in Africa

The UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) announced on Tuesday that it will host a major conference of governments and partners in Africa which will examine progress in disaster risk reduction across the continent.

The UNISDR said the conference to be held in November will also examine the ongoing challenges of responding to extreme weather events which have left 60 million people in severe need across the region.

Amjad Abbashar, head of UNISDR's Regional Office for Africa, said the conference comes at a key moment when many governments, UN agencies and nongovernmental organizations will still be grappling with the consequences of one of the strongest El-Ninos ever recorded.

"In addition, climate change is proving catastrophic for many countries," Abbashar said in the statement issued in Nairobi.

"This conference will be a crucial step toward the implementation of the Sendai Framework in Africa, thus paving the way for development planning and investment that take disaster and climate risks into account, and ultimately building a culture of safety and resilience," said Rhoda Peace Tumusiime, African Union Commissioner for Rural economy and agriculture.

The meeting is expected to develop an Africa Position and Program of Action for the implementation of the Sendai Framework. Endit