UN tells Asia: Make flood prevention top priority
PATERNO ESMAQUEL II, GMA News

The United Nations (UN) wants Asian governments to ramp up their investments in disaster risk reduction to curb and prevent the floods ravaging a number of Asian countries, the international organization said over the weekend.

Like the Philippines, countries such as Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Cambodia, and Thailand are all suffering from floods, noted the UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR) in a statement issued Saturday.

“People shouldn’t die because of floods. We have the technology to alert communities before floods arrive. People can be evacuated in time, lives saved and livelihoods protected,” said Margareta Wahlström, the UN secretary-general’s special representative for disaster risk reduction.

“Once again, early warning systems are the smart choice and the most efficient of all disaster prevention measures,” she added.

A model for disaster preparedness comes from the Philippines itself, with the UN having awarded Camotes Island in Cebu for using the Filipino purok system in preparing for disasters.

Read full article @ www.gmanews.tv

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