Asia-Pacific Ministers Unite to Enhance Disaster Risk Reduction
A high-level Indian delegation, led by Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai, participated in the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (APMCDRR) 2024 in Manila, Philippines. The conference aimed to enhance ambition in the Asia-Pacific region to accelerate disaster risk reduction.
President of the Republic of Philippines Bongbong Marcos, inaugurated the conference, bringing together ministers and policymakers to discuss strategies for reducing disaster risks amidst increasing climate-related challenges.
Minister Nityanand Rai acknowledged that disasters are an undeniable reality, resulting in increasing losses of lives, economies, and overall development. He emphasized India’s commitment to implementing inclusive and proactive actions to mitigate the impact of disasters, aligning with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 10-point agenda for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) strategies.
The Minister focused on key priorities in Disaster Risk Reduction, including Early Warning System and Early Action, Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, and Financial Provisions for DRR. He highlighted modern technologies such as Common Alerting Protocol and Cell Broadcast Systems, and the establishment of the Indian Tsunami Early Warning Centre.
India has taken a leadership role in promoting infrastructure resilience through the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), which now has 47 member countries. CDRI provides technical assistance and capacity-building for investing in disaster-resilient infrastructure.
Notably, India is one of the few countries with dedicated financial provisions for DRR through institutional mechanisms. The 15th Finance Commission of India has allocated USD 30 billion for the National Disaster Risk Management Fund and State Disaster Risk Management Fund.
