The UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) discussed standardization of a core set of disaster-related statistics in harmony with the disaster reduction framework beyond 2015 at its 70th session, which took place under the theme 'Regional Connectivity for Shared Prosperity.'
27 May 2014: The UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) discussed standardization of a core set of disaster-related statistics in harmony with the disaster reduction framework beyond 2015 at its 70th session, which took place under the theme ‘Regional Connectivity for Shared Prosperity.’
UNESCAP Executive Secretary Shamshad Akhtar welcomed the standardization of disaster-related data as a step towards building resilience to natural disasters through better statistics and information systems.
The agreement stemmed from a recommendation by ESCAP’s Committee on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), which met in November 2013. The Committee also requested the ESCAP secretariat to: prepare a regional strategy for mainstreaming DRR into development plans; monitor the resilience of member states to natural disasters; and provide regional support for the use of satellite imagery in early warning, impact assessment and disaster recovery. The meeting agreed to postpone evaluation of a proposal to establish an Asia-Pacific center for disaster information management.
The 70th session is being held in two phases. Following the one-day segment in Bangkok, Thailand, on 23 May, ESCAP’s 70th session will continue from 4-8 August 2014. [ESCAP Press Release] [Report of the Committee on Disaster Risk Reduction on its third session] [Evaluation Pursuant to Resolution 67/4: Establishment of the Asian and Pacific Centre for the Development of Disaster Information Management]