Bangkok--Oct 7--UNISBKK
For the first time ever, the United Nations Sasakawa Award for Disaster Reduction will be given in Asia. The 2005 winner is also from the Asia-Pacific region.
Mr. Chimeddorj Batchulluun of the Mongolian government's National Emergency Management Agency won the US$40,000 prize for reducing the vulnerability of farming communities in Mongolia to winter disease and famine.
The other regional winner went to Indonesia's Simeulue Community for
disaster policies that helped saved thousands of lives during the Indian Ocean tsunami. After a 1907 earthquake, disaster preparedness was integrated at the local government level, so that only 7 lives were lost during the 2004 tsunami from a local population of 83,000. Two additional winners are from Belgium and Spain, with the Belgian candidate donating his financial reward of $5,000 to the Simeulue Community to contribute to its speedy recovery.
The Sasakawa Award ceremony will take place at the UNCC Bangkok at 1045
hours on 12 October, the UN International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction. There will be a special program including a UNESCAP-ADPC Forum on Disaster Reduction, which has jointly organized annually by UNESCAP and the Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC) since 2000. The four Sasakawa Laureates will share their experience in a panel discussion, followed by the press conference at the press theatre for interviews.
The Award was created by Mr. Ryoichi Sasakawa to contribute to international initiatives of a humanitarian nature. It recognises the Asia-Pacific region's expertise in disaster risk reduction and represents both a powerful educational tool and a strong encouragement to keep improving technologies and knowledge in reducing the root causes of disasters.
The award will be in Asia for the first time due to the relocation of the
UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR) regional programme for Asia and the Pacific to Bangkok. Disaster reduction in Asia and the Pacific is central to the ISDR's mandate, more so after the Indian Ocean tsunami.
NOTE TO EDITORS: You or your representatives are cordially invited to
attend the Sasakawa Award ceremony on Wednesday, 12 October 2005 at 1300
hours at the Theatre of the UN Conference Centre, UNESCAP, Rajdamnern Nok
Avenue, Bangkok.
For further information please contact:
UN Information Services Bangkok
Tel: +(66-2) 288-1861-69, Fax: +(66-2) 288-1052
E-mail: [email protected]
http://www.unescap.org
http://www.unisdr.org/ End.