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News from ISDR Secretariat
Inter-Agency
Task Force on Disaster Reduction 7th meeting
As one of the two principal
mechanisms of the ISDR, the Inter-Agency Task Force on Disaster Reduction
(IATF/DR) is increasingly recognized as providing much added-value and
increasingly tangible results, in particular as a productive platform
for coordination and policy advice and synergies. On 10-11 April IATF/DR
met for the seventh time to review and discuss the progress of its four
working groups (on climate and disasters, early warning, risk, vulnerability
and impact assessment and wildland fires) and ad-hoc discussion group
on drought. The meeting proved most fruitful, with significant outputs
of the groups being presented. Among these were the continuing support
to the International Centre on the El Niño Phenomenon (CIIFEN)
and the provision of regular El Niño Outlooks; the further advancement
of a global inventory of early warning systems as well as active preparations
for the 2nd International Conference on Early Warning (EWCII); the ongoing
review of existing disaster databases and efforts to consolidate and standardise
disaster data and information, including vulnerability indexing; the formulation
of a global fire network built on regional and sub-regional contacts in
addition to the preparations for the International Wildland Fire Summit
to be held in September in Sydney, Australia; and the production of a
comprehensive report on drought, including recommendations and steps to
take towards the development of a global drought risk reduction network.
ATF/DR members affirmed
their commitment to the development of a programme of work for the biennium
2004-2005 based on a review of achievements to date and reassessment of
its goals, including urban risk issues. IATF/DR members also recognised
and appreciated the work of the ISDR Secretariat, who is receiving ever-increasing
demands and expectations from the international community in addition
to requests from the UN General Assembly.
For further information
on the results of the IATF/DR meeting, please contact Helena Molin Valdes,
molinvaldes@un.org
Farewell to our respected colleague Paul Bell
It
is with great sorrow that we received the news of the loss of Mr.
Paul Bell, OFDA-USAID, one of the most generous and forward-looking
experts in the field of disaster management. Mr. Bell's dedication
to assist developing countries (mainly in Latin America and the
Caribbean) to enhance their disaster management capacities has been
one of the main features in the advancement of disaster management
in the region. His visionary approach contributed greatly to move
disaster risk reduction forward within the disaster management community
and to identify the need to build bridges with other relevant sectors
such as health, environment, development, among others. We had the
privilege of working with him on several occasions and benefited
greatly from his wise and timely advice. He was indeed a supporter
of the ISDR, and we hope that his example, values and attitudes
will be continued by his colleagues in San José and Washington..
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