MANILA: A recent United Nations conference in Manila has underscored the urgent need for increased funding for disaster risk reduction in the Asia-Pacific region. The week-long Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (APMCDRR) concluded with a call to action for countries to prioritize financing prevention and risk reduction before disasters occur.
According to Philippines News Agency, the head of the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), Kamal Kishore, emphasized the importance of predictable and annual allocations from national budgets to address disaster risk. Kishore urged donor countries to allocate a larger percentage of development assistance to disaster risk reduction and to make climate financing for adaptation more accessible.
Kishore also highlighted the yet-to-be-released 2024 APMCDRR co-chairs’ statement with the Philippine government, which calls for significant expansion in financing for disaster risk reduction and prevention. The statement also rec
ommends increasing pooled funds and insurance products.
The UNDRR reported that insured losses from natural hazards and human-induced disasters in 2023 amounted to USD291 billion, with indirect socio-economic costs expected to be much higher. The agency noted that some countries dedicate less than 1 percent of their national budgets to risk prevention, and from 2010 to 2018, only 47 cents of every USD100 in total development aid were allocated for disaster risk reduction.
The Asia-Pacific region is particularly vulnerable to disasters due to climate change, earthquakes, and coastal exposure, resulting in increased preventive investment and response costs. Kishore stressed the need to fast-track understanding of disaster risk and strengthen accounting of loss and damage.
The Philippines has launched the Philippine Public Financial Management (PFM) Reforms Roadmap 2024-2028, focusing on disaster risk reduction and management. Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman announced the introduction of classification an
d tagging systems for disaster-related programs to improve budget management.
In addition to financial strategies, Kishore recommended utilizing technology to manage data and integrate local knowledge. He advocated for the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning to enhance analytics and forecasting models.
The conference outcome statement also called for developing and strengthening early warning systems for all hazards, similar to those used for tsunamis. Kishore expressed confidence in replicating the success of tsunami early warning systems for other hazards.
The UNDRR defines disaster risk as the likelihood of loss of life, injury, or damage due to hazards and conditions that increase vulnerability and exposure. These conditions include poverty, climate change, rapid urbanization, and non-risk-informed policies.