UN office concerned about Asia floods

MANILA, Philippines - The UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR) yesterday voiced its concern over the millions of people affected by the floods ravaging many countries in Asia, including the Philippines.

The UNISDR said governments must increase their investment in disaster risk reduction to prevent or mitigate the effects of flooding.

The Philippines, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Cambodia and Thailand are all suffering from the effects of floods, and many people have lost their lives as a result.

“People shouldn’t die because of floods. We have the technology to alert communities before floods arrive. People can be evacuated in time, lives saved and livelihoods protected. Once again, early warning systems are the smart choice and the most efficient of all disaster prevention measures,” said Margareta Wahlstrom, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction.

Wahlstrom also expressed concern over the long-term economic impact of the floods on the affected countries, many of which have seen their infrastructure damaged and their services interrupted by the heavy rains.

She said this would be one of the main issues she would focus on during her upcoming visit to the region.

In the UNISDR report, floods account for a significant amount of damage to public assets such as health and education facilities, as well as to the livelihoods, homes and assets of poor people. However, most of these losses were not recorded by governments, making it difficult for them to invest in disaster reduction measures.

“The invisible nature of this large volume of disaster loss is one reason why so many countries are finding it difficult to make both political and economic decisions to prioritize investment in disaster risk management,” Wahlstrom said.