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Japan and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) have signed a new agreement to support disaster risk management in the region, with a key focus on strengthening multi-hazard risk assessment and early warning systems in Pacific Island countries.

The US $1 million Japan-funded project will enhance capacity for disaster early warning and geospatial information systems through the use of state-of-the-art technology. Japan’s contribution will also be channelled to the ESCAP Multi-Donor Trust Fund for Tsunami, Disaster and Climate Preparedness, a unique pooled funding mechanism to strengthen early warning systems for coastal hazards.

At a signing ceremony in Bangkok today, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of ESCAP Dr. Shamshad Akhtar underlined the critical need to address disasters effectively within the context of the post-2015 sustainable development agenda.

“The natural disasters experienced in Asia and the Pacific this year alone in countries such as Vanuatu, Nepal and Myanmar, to name a few examples, demonstrate the importance of addressing disaster risk in order to ensure sustainable development,” explained Dr. Akhtar. “The experience of the region, with Japan as a role model, clearly shows that sustainable development and disaster risk reduction are inextricably linked.”

Japanese Ambassador Mr. Shiro Sadoshima further emphasized the urgent need to assist the Pacific Island countries that are most vulnerable to natural disasters. “It is critically important for each country to implement the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, which serves as a guide for the international community to achieving a substantial reduction of disaster risk in the next 15 years,” he said.

In order to build resilience to disasters in high-risk areas, multi-hazard end-to-end early warning systems are essential. Space technology is now more accessible and affordable than ever but it is under used in most Pacific Islands due to a lack of capacity, resources and expertise for operational applications of its technical tools. The Japan-funded project ‘Space and Geographic Information Systems Applications for Strengthening Multi-hazard Risk Assessment and Early Warning systems in Pacific Island countries’ will address this challenge by focusing on capacity building and awareness-raising for policymakers and practitioners.

Japan has been a stronger supporter of ESCAP’s intergovernmental work for over 60 years. The Government of Japan has played a key role in reaching regional achievements in, among others, supporting norm-setting and policy-making for disability-inclusive development, promoting the achievement of a clean environment, developing the Asian Highway network, applying space technology for addressing natural disasters and achieving sustainable development, as well as the strengthening of national statistical systems.

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