Annual Conference of Swiss Humanitarian Aid: prevention before disaster strikes
Bern, 27.03.2015 - "Knowing the risks – reducing disasters" is the title of this year's Annual Conference of Swiss Humanitarian Aid. Less than a fortnight after the Third UN World Conference on Disaster Reduction, Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter, the Federal Council's delegate for Swiss Humanitarian Aid and other experts from Switzerland and abroad informed participants at the Annual Conference of Swiss Humanitarian Aid about the disaster risk reduction measures being taken by Switzerland and the international community and about the current humanitarian situation.
More than 55 million people worldwide have fled their homes, including 20 million because of natural disasters and climate change. During his speech at the Kursaal in Bern, Federal Councillor and Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs Didier Burkhalter highlighted the plight of these displaced persons in particular. He stressed, "A paradigm shift that moves us away from responding to natural disasters to taking preventive action is all the more important because we can expect an increase in natural risks". Taking preventive action would provide people and societies with better protection against risk, reduce economic losses and secure the progress achieved in development cooperation. In keeping with the main theme of the conference – "Knowing the risks – reducing disasters" – Mr Burkhalter outlined Switzerland's efforts in the field of international disaster risk reduction. He explained how Switzerland puts its extensive experience in disaster risk reduction to good use in Swiss Humanitarian Aid operations and development cooperation programmes.
Mr Burkhalter welcomed the results of the UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in Sendai, Japan, which he attended as head of delegation in mid-March. In Sendai the international community agreed to adopt a framework agreement that contains guidelines with clear goals, specific instructions and a definition of roles and responsibilities for the next 15 years. Mr Burkhalter noted other current challenges, including the crisis in Syria, which will continue to be a major focus of activity for Swiss Humanitarian Aid this year. He also announced a humanitarian initiative in Ukraine, where the package of measures for implementation of the Minsk agreements has not ended the suffering of the population. The FDFA has decided to launch a bilateral humanitarian aid programme for the people of eastern Ukraine, where over three million people need assistance. "Switzerland is the first country not directly involved in the conflict to have identified the humanitarian needs on both sides of the contact line in two SHA fact-finding missions", said Mr Burkhalter, noting that even the most basic necessities are lacking.
In his opening address, the Federal Council's delegate for Swiss Humanitarian Aid, Manuel Bessler, spoke about disaster risk reduction measures and expressed his relief that there had been no major tsunamis or earthquakes in 2014. But this does not mean, said Mr Bessler, that we can rest on our laurels: "It is precisely when things are relatively quiet and there are no natural disasters that we are in a position to implement preventive measures."
During the accompanying programme, Margareta Wahlström, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction, and other experts explained how the results of the Sendai conference are to be put into practice – "from policy to action". Swiss efforts were illustrated with examples from Morocco and Pakistan. A project in Africa which relies on satellite data was cited as an example of how technology and research can be leveraged to achieve sustainable use of natural resources. During his first appearance at an annual conference of Swiss Humanitarian Aid, SDC Director-General Manuel Sager spoke about disaster risk reduction as an integral part of sustainable development. "Disaster risk reduction is a bridge between humanitarian aid and development cooperation work", said Mr Sager. Disaster risk reduction not only protects people's livelihoods but also shields progress achieved so far in development against natural disasters.
Some 1,000 people took part in the Annual Conference of Swiss Humanitarian Aid. The conference brings together Swiss humanitarian actors in a different Swiss city every year. An accompanying programme enables participants to discuss topical humanitarian issues. In addition, the conference offers Swiss Humanitarian Aid staff and members of the Swiss Humanitarian Aid Unit (SHA) and of partner organisations – who frequently work in remote regions – an ideal opportunity for a personal exchange of ideas with their colleagues. SHA groups of experts hold their annual meetings immediately before the annual conference takes place.
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