2018 Asian Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (AMCDRR) is taking place under the theme “Preventing Disaster Risk: Protecting Sustainable Development” in Ulaanbaatar until July 6. The AMCDRR is a regional council platform aimed at building and strengthening the region's disaster prevention, preparedness and capacity to fight disaster. At the conference, the countries share their efforts and achievements in disaster risk reduction, advise, provide technical assistance to other countries, solve the challenges and issues jointly as well as lead the initiative of regional and cross-border disaster reduction, enabling ways to find effective solutions on that matter. Colonel, Deputy Chief of National Emergency Management Agency Ganzorig Tsogtbaatar remarked, “Mongolia’s comprehensive reform on disaster prevention is the reason why we are selected as the host of 2018 AMCDRR. Not many countries have secured the legal environment for disaster prevention. The fact that Mongolia shifted from disaster prevention to disaster risk management in such a short period of time has drawn other countries’ attention. We have approved a strategic paper in accordance with Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, calling for other countries to join the document.”

• AMCDRR is a regional council platform aimed at building and strengthening the region's disaster prevention, preparedness and capacity to fight disaster.

• Mongolia’s comprehensive reform on disaster prevention was the main reason for hosting the 2018 AMCDRR.

• This year’s goal is to finalize strategic documents, such as Ulaanbaatar Declaration and Action Plan 2018-2020.

The main goal of this year’s AMCDRR is to finalize strategic documents, such as Ulaanbaatar Declaration and Action Plan 2018- 2020 of the Asia Regional Plan for implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030. Mongolia will also be responsible for the monitoring and implementation of these papers. The idea behind the Ulaanbaatar Declaration is to urgently accelerate actions to develop and implement national and local strategies on disaster risk reduction, thereby achieving Sendai Framework targets by 2020. Furthermore, the officials view that it will be an important impetus to realize the need to focus on underlying, interconnected and evolving disaster risk factors such as unplanned and rapid urbanisation, development, migration, population growth, and climate change and poverty, as well as to promote decentralisation of disaster risk reduction responsibilities and secure fiscal and financial allocation of resources to support implementation of disaster risk reduction at the local level. “This is about saving lives, averting economic loss, protecting the environment, and safeguarding the social and cultural heritage of communities and countries,” highlighted Minister for Law Enforcement and Cyber Security of Australia Angus Taylor.

Published Date:2018-07-04