Experts from Iran and nine neighboring countries will cooperate in identifying ways to reduce the risks posed by such natural disasters as drought and earthquakes, which can undermine development gains and worsen poverty.
They gathered at a recent workshop in Tehran, Iran, organized by the United Nation’s Development Program (UNDP) in cooperation with the Disaster Task Force of the Iran's Ministry of Interior, to identify common needs and priorities. Participants came from Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
The workshop identified several themes for a joint initiative, including reducing risks related to earthquakes and floods, improving drought management, developing a policy and legal framework, promoting community-based disaster management and emergency search, rescue and relief planning.
Drought management is a main concern for all the countries and a priority for the UNDP regional bureaus working with them. To follow up, UNDP is supporting a one-year project to prepare a sub-regional disaster risk management initiative. This will involve action at the local, national and regional levels by governments, UN agencies, civil society and academic institutions. — (menareport.com)
© 2003 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
