UN urges Bangladesh to share best disaster management practices with other nations

UN Secretary General’s Special Representative (SRSG) on Disaster Risk Reduction Mami Mizutori on Monday urged Bangladesh to share some of the country’s best practices with other countries vulnerable to floods, cyclones and other natural disasters.

She suggested that Bangladesh has internationally championed in the areas of disaster-related legislations, inter-agency coordination for disaster preparedness while the nation is successfully practising inclusiveness, especially for persons with disabilities during disasters.

Mami Mizutori met Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen at his office.

The minister requested the UN to help raise public awareness about earthquake preparedness.

The foreign minister reaffirmed the country’s commitment to the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, while the SRSG commended the government’s contributions to the Framework’s mid-term stocktaking exercise.

Mizutori confirmed the UN’s readiness to work together with the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief on developing an earthquake modelling for the whole of Bangladesh, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Momen underscored the importance of early warning, particularly for flash floods in the northeastern region of Bangladesh.

The UN Special Representative offered support for conducting a gap analysis for the country with a view to mobilising international financing for further strengthening the multi-hazard early warning system.

The foreign minister offered to receive delegations from other interested countries to showcase the community engagement model for cyclone preparedness.

Mizutori suggested replicating Bangladesh’s community volunteers-based cyclone preparedness model in a complex context in other parts of the country.

Both regretted the dearth of adequate international financing and technologies for developing disaster-resilient infrastructures in vulnerable settings.

They agreed to work together to further sensitise the international financial institutions to this issue.

Mizutori is in Bangladesh on a four-day visit when she is expected to visit some field-level projects being implemented by the UN and its partners.