Asia needs to spend more to reduce disaster risk — UN

THE UNITED NATIONS says Asia needs to spend more in disaster risk reduction measures to meet Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) of cutting poverty and improving access to health and education by 2015.

In 2009, Asia accounted for about 40% of more than 330 natural disasters around the world but 89% of victims, the Center for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters said.

Disaster damage costs have shot up to nearly $1 trillion from $75.5 billion in the 1960s, and 85% of people in developing countries across the world are exposed to quakes, typhoons, floods and drought, it said.

Margareta Wahlstrom, UN special representative, said at a meeting of Asian parliamentarians in Manila that governments needed to allocate at least 1% of their budget towards disaster risk reduction projects.

“Disaster risk reduction will contribute to reducing poverty through ensuring that people’s assets are not destroyed during disasters, particularly in countries were there is very low insurance coverage,” she said, adding insurance coverage was insufficient in about 70% of countries.

“If we are going to achieve MDG targets for which governments have allocated some budget, perhaps we could consider increasing disaster risk reduction funds,” she said.

Steps range from building safer schools and hospitals to enhancing public health skills, she said. — Reuters