Myanmar Action Plan on Disaster Risk Reduction-MAPDRR-2017 launched
Vice President U Henry Van Thio speaks at the ceremony of launching the MAPDRR-2017. Photo: MNA
The Union Government launched the Myanmar Action Plan on Disaster Risk Reduction-MAPDRR-2017 yesterday, assuring that the plan will play a key role in boosting risk-proofing investments in Myanmar.
Speaking at the ceremony to launch the MAPDRR-2017, Vice President U Henry Van Thio said the plan will also cover not only natural hazards but also man-made accidents through a people centred and inclusive approach focusing on managing risks rather than managing disasters.
“While our country is accelerating multiple complex transitions towards a democratic society, peace and stability and development, disasters can knock down all the efforts that we have made by far in a few minutes,” said U Henry Van Thio.
“In this sense, deeply interconnected risks that the climate change and skewed development practices entail will require forward thinking, long-term investment and partnership in the conduct of disaster risk reduction,” he added.
He also stressed the need to mobilize both domestic and international resources to achieve its successful implementation of the MAPDRR. The drafting of the plan began on 27th October 2016.
Myanmar experiences average annual loss of 3 % of national GDP due to natural disasters while globally, direct economic losses attributed to disasters are rising dramatically and reached about US$ 1.4 trillion over the last decade.
In last three years, Myanmar saw the changes in disaster risk landscape in which small and medium scale disasters and climate-induced disasters such as floods and cyclones are on a rise.
Vice President U Henry Van Thio also put the blame mainly on the country’s changes in rain fall patterns, sea level rises and temperature increase for exacerbating the occurrences of disasters in Myanmar.
“Low-income countries have to pay a high price in terms of fatalities from disasters, on average, 327 people died par disaster event in low-income countries over the past two decades,” said U Henry Van Thio, “The figure in fact is almost five times higher than the average death toll in high-income countries.”
“This indicates the importance of national development in minimizing the impacts of natural calamities,” he added.
The MAPDRR-2017 is designed to address the emerging risk of small and recurrent disasters such as river bank erosions, strong wind, lightening strikes and localized flooding.
The plan has also inspired to protect the invaluable heritage in addition to lives, assets, livelihoods and environment.
“This new actionable plan will ensure the achievement of the first target to be achieved under Sendai Framework for DRR by 2020 that calls for a substantial increase in national and local strategies for disaster risk reduction,” said the Vice President.
In his concluding remarks, Vice President U Henry Van Thio urged ministries and departments concerned to oversee the implementation of the plan on the ground and to make sure its effectiveness for the local people and the country.—GNLM
Women walk past the cyclone shelter in Kungyangon which was striken by Cyclone Nargis in 2008. The government yesterday instituted a programme that places higher priority on risk management and preparedness over natural disaster response. File Photo: Aye Min Soe
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