EXTREME FLOODING MUST BE ‘TURNING POINT’ ON DISASTER RESPONSE – UN OFFICIAL

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From: UNNews <UNNews@un.org>
Date: 25 Jun 2013 11:00:01 -0400
Subject: EXTREME FLOODING MUST BE 'TURNING POINT' ON DISASTER RESPONSE
– UN OFFICIAL
To: news11@ny-mail-p-lb-028.ptc.un.org

EXTREME FLOODING MUST BE 'TURNING POINT' ON DISASTER RESPONSE – UN
OFFICIALNew York, Jun 25 2013 11:00AMA United Nations senior official
today <"http://www.unisdr.org/archive/33693">stressed that this year
will be a "turning point" in how governments view and respond to
extreme weather events, and floods in particular, which are currently
affecting several countries across the world.

"India, Nepal, Canada and many countries in Europe have experienced
huge losses over the last two months due to intense precipitation
events which have triggered extreme flooding affecting millions of
people's well-being and livelihoods," said the Special Representative
of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction, Margareta
Wahlström.

Monsoon rains in India this year are believed to be the heaviest in 80
years, according to media reports, which noted that some 7,000 people
are still stranded in the mountains after flash floods and landslides.
More than 600 people are confirmed dead so far, while 80,000 have been
rescued.

"The shocking loss of life in India underlines how vitally important
it is that we start planning for future scenarios far removed from
anything that we may have experienced in the past," Ms. Wahlström
said.

In the Canadian province of Alberta, more than 100,000 people were
forced to flee their homes this month as floods triggered by
torrential rains hit the region. The floods have washed away roads and
bridges, cut off electricity and submerged hundreds of homes.

"When we look at the worldwide escalation in economic losses from
disasters over the last five years, it is clear that our exposure to
extreme events is growing and this trend needs to be addressed through
better land use and more resilient infrastructure as we seek to cope
with population growth and rapid urbanization."

According to the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR), some
250 million people have been affected annually by floods over the last
10 years, and floods are the single most widespread and increasing
disaster risk to urban settlements of all sizes.

Major contributing factors include poor urban planning which increases
flood hazard due to unsuitable land use change, increases in paving
and other impermeable surfaces, poorly maintained drainage, sanitation
and solid waste infrastructure.

"Flood management systems need to be designed so that even if they are
overwhelmed by floodwaters, the failure is not catastrophic," Ms.
Wahlström said, adding that UNISDR emphasizes the need for early
warning systems, reduction of social vulnerability through land use
planning and leadership at local government level.Jun 25 2013 11:00AM
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