Australia: Aid measures aim to reduce impact of natural disasters

A new aid policy aimed at drastically reducing the death toll from 'natural' disasters has been launched by the Australian Government. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) interviewed three experts including Margareta Wahlström, United Nations Assistant Secretary-General for disaster risk reduction.

"I think there are a few things that converge right now. One is the international disaster response system and national disaster response costs, are actually becoming very high. You're beginning to feel strongly the futility of repeating the same thing over and over again. And given the huge cost of this and in fact, very seriously, the most disaster-prone countries in the world are also among the poorest countries. So what you invest for their economic and social development is seriously undermined by the costs of disasters, let alone the lives that are lost in the process, but also in dollar terms." said Ms Wahlström.