UN: Scale-up to tackle disasters

Speaking at the 2nd India Natural Disaster Management Congress in Delhi, UN Assistant Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction, Margareta Wahlström told scientists, academics and policy makers that more governments were now sensitised about natural hazards but that there were still some shortcomings.

"Scientists and policy makers need to speak to each other. We need to hear the grassroots and communities on the ground because they have better knowledge. They know where to build a bridge or where not to build" she stated, "we cannot continue to blame nature for disasters. Now, we know of vulnerabilities and have enough knowledge to mitigate damage on human beings."

The three-day seminar is organized by the National Institute of Disaster Management.