Thailand adopts Sendai Framework

By Brigitte Leoni 

Bangkok - The government of Thailand today announced details of a new five-year national disaster prevention and mitigation plan which incorporates the priorities for action of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction. The priorities are focused on understanding disaster risk in all its aspects, improved risk governance, investment in disaster risk reduction and better preparedness and are at the heart of the Sendai Framework, adopted in March at the Third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction. 

The plan has been endorsed by the Thai Cabinet Office and was presented today by Mr Supakit Phopapapan, Deputy Director General of Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, at a meeting with the Director of UNISDR, Adam Bouloukos, and the head of the UNISDR Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, Ms Feng Min Kan. 

Mr. Bouloukos said: "We are very impressed by the determination of Thailand and its commitment to implement the Sendai Framework so soon after its adoption at the World Conference in Sendai, Japan, and its endorsement last month by the UN General Assembly. 

"Disaster risk reduction is not about spending more money but about spending wisely to reduce losses in the future. Thailand is moving fast and taking already substantive measures that will help the country to better manage its national and local level risks." 

The Thai Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation is to set up a cross-sectoral task force including public health, finance and environment to discuss and develop a set of indicators that will measure its progress against the implementation of the Sendai Framework which includes targets to achieve substantial reductions in mortality, numbers of people affected by disasters, reduce damage to critical infrastructure and increase access to early warning systems and disaster risk information. 

It will also engage different stakeholder groups such as the private sector, disability groups, academic institutions and the media to play an active role in the national implementation of the Sendai Framework. 

Mr. Supakit said: "The support of UNISDR will be very appreciated to guide us in this comprehensive approach and align our existing data collection and disaster loss database to global standards." 

Thailand suffers from many recurrent hazards such as floods and droughts. In 2011, floods caused an estimated 1,425 billion baht (US$45.7 billion) in economic losses.