Disasters cost developing countries $1.2 trillion over past 30 years
Shinzo Abe, the Prime Minister of Japan has told heads of African governments and international institutions that disasters are a serious threat to development, both in developing and developed countries.
Speaking at the 5th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD V), he said disasters and climate extremes can roll back years of development gains.
“Over the past 30 years, developing countries alone suffered $1.2 trillion in disaster losses, with far reaching indirect impacts,” he said.
The event titled, “Building Climate and Disaster Resilience for African Development”, jointly organized by the World Bank-Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), is part of an ongoing effort to build international commitment to integrate disaster and climate risk considerations in development policy and programmes, with a view to the post-2015 development framework, a press release issued on June 2, 2013 has said.
“As Japan painfully experienced in 2011, disasters are perhaps the most urgent threat to human security and development. Climate change is only going to make things worse, Japan is committed to supporting African countries and communities as they strive to build resilience,” Abe said.
Hailemariam Desalegn, the Prime Minister of Ethiopia and Chairperson of the African Union, noted that Africa has held steady economic growth for the past decade, with growth rates well over five percent in recent years. Adding, “This is the time for action, “We can’t afford to see countries and communities locked in growth paths that are not sustainable. We must work with the international community to develop national and local capacity to manage disaster and climate risks.”
By Dorcas Appiah