- Title: U.N. says "urgent" international action on disaster relief needed
- Date: 25th May 2017
- Summary: CANCUN, QUINTANA ROO, MEXICO (FILE) (REUTERS) GENERAL VIEW OF BEACH RESORT AREA
- Embargoed: 8th June 2017 02:22
- Keywords: volcanoes hurricanes Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto climate change Cancun United Nations emergency volcano Deputy UN Secretary General Amina J Mohammed United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction
- Location: CANCUN, QUINTANA ROO, VERACRUZ, VERACRUZ, COICOYAN DE LAS FLORES, OAXACA, LA YERBABUENA, COLIMA, MEXICO
- City: CANCUN, QUINTANA ROO, VERACRUZ, VERACRUZ, COICOYAN DE LAS FLORES, OAXACA, LA YERBABUENA, COLIMA, MEXICO
- Country: Mexico
- Topics: Disaster/Accidents
- Reuters ID: LVA0016IC50ZR
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: International delegates from around the world gathered in Cancun on Wednesday (May 24) for a U.N. global conference on how to reduce loss of life and economic losses from disasters.
Hosted by Mexico, President Enrique Pena Nieto greeted delegates alongside U.N. Deputy Secretary General Amina J Mohammed for the event coordinated by the U.N. Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR).
This conference comes after the international community adopted the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, which calls for greater investment in disaster reduction for resilience.
UNISDR head Dr Robert Glasser told the conference that progress has been made in disaster relief but that climate change posed new challenges.
The disaster relief conference was called after the Indian Ocean tsunami killed over 200,000 people. Five summits have since taken place.
According to U.N. figures, the cost of global disasters is estimated at over $500 billion dollars, with 26 million people pushed into poverty every year from man-made and natural phenomena.
The decision to hold the event in Mexico was symbolic. Flanked by both the Caribbean and the Pacific, Mexico is at the frontline in hurricane season. And with the country situated in the Pacific Ring of Fire, its volcanoes are amongst the most active in the world.
Speaking at the conference, President Enrique Pena Nieto touted Mexico's readiness to act to safeguard its citizens in disaster relief as a model for the world.
The three-day event in Mexico will hear the views of the world's most disaster exposed countries as well as propose practical early warning systems to avoid deaths. - Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
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