UK committee calls for integration of disaster risk reduction into programmes
The Seventh Report of Session 2010-12 (HC 617), The Humanitarian Response to the Pakistan Floods released by the International Development Committee yesterday calls on the Department for International Development (DFID) and the wider international community to pay greater attention to disaster preparedness and risk reduction based on a potential increase in the frequency and severity of natural hazards due climate change. It states that densely populated urban areas are at greatest risk in terms of loss of life and livelihoods.
"Climate change looks likely to make natural disasters both more frequent and severe and population growth will increase their impact – the world must make sure it’s better prepared to come to the rescue of countries in need. DFID must give greater priority to increasing disaster preparedness in its development programmes," said Malcolm Bruce MP, Chair of the International Development Committee.
On the funding of the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR) the report states the following: 'Given the evident importance of disaster risk reduction we were surprised to learn that DFID is to withdraw from the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction. We recommend DFID explain in detail how it intends to prioritise disaster risk reduction in the multilateral system in its response to this report. We also recommend that DFID sets out its proposals to work with the ISDR to assist it to improve its effectiveness, and that DFID sets out clear criterian which, when met by ISDR, would permit DFID to start funding the organisation once again.' The report does not comment on the decision to cease funding of the UNISDR.
'The international humanitarian system needs to be much better prepared to respond to natural disasters to reduce the risks to life and livelihoods. Predicted increases in the incidence and severity of natural disasters, coupled with demographic trends call for a step change in the system. DFID must play a key role in promoting changes in the system and must itself better integrate disaster risk reduction into its own development programmes,' concludes the review.