Incheon

11 August 2009

Secretary-General's remarks at opening of UNISDR Office in Incheon and the ISDR Training Centre for Urban Risk Reduction [as prepared for delivery]

Ban Ki-Moon, Former Secretary-General

Your Excellency Dr. Han Seung-Soo, Prime Minister of the Republic of Korea,

Honourable Mayor Ahn Sang-Soo, Mr. Seong Ryong Choi, NEMA Administrator, Distinguished delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Thank you for your hospitality and warm welcome.

Let me begin by expressing my appreciation for the leadership and commitment of the Korean National Emergency Management Authority (NEMA) and Incheon Metropolitan City.

Today, we open the UN's new center for disaster relief in Incheon. But it will not be the only UN center in this globally-minded city. Incheon already hosts two other similar centers?one for ESCAP, the other for UNITAR.

I see this as an eloquent sign of the city's deepening ties with the United Nations and its commitment to the ideals that bind us.

It is no accident, I suspect, that Mayor Ahn has been honored with the prestigious Woodrow Wilson Award?a testament to his own, and this city's, vision and global citizenship. Mr. Mayor, please accept my heartfelt congratulations.

With the opening of this center, we are sending a strong signal from both the Republic of Korea and the United Nations: Disaster risk reduction is a priority for all.

Asia is the most vulnerable place in the world for disasters triggered by natural hazards.

In 2008, Asia was hit hard. Nearly 140,000 people died in the Myanmar cyclone Nargis.

More than five million homes collapsed in the earthquake in China.

We know that prevention is better than cure. Yet too often, there is a tendency to defer action until after disasters occur.

Building risk reduction capacities and raising public awareness is crucial.

The ISDR Education and Training Centre for Urban Risk Reduction marks an important step forward. And it comes at the right time.

People, poverty and disaster risk are increasingly concentrated in cities.

Climate risk is adding a new risk dimension.

Some cities that were well planned 25 years ago are now experiencing yearly floods.

Rapid urban growth is increasing vulnerability as cities cannot provide adequate infrastructure and services to keep up with demand.

More than 1 billion people worldwide live in informal settlements.

That number is mushrooming by more than 25 million each year.

Our large cities are the most vulnerable to floods and hurricanes.

This Office and Centre will enhance the capacity of city government officials and professionals to better analyze, assess and manage emerging risks from a changing climate.

They will also promote innovative approaches to equip a new generation of urban planners and city managers with state-of-the art knowledge of risk sensitive urban development.

Today's opening underlines Asian leadership in advancing the disaster risk reduction agenda.

Addressing urban risk is also recognized at the global level. In fact, the 2010-2011 World Disaster Reduction Campaign will focus on making cities safer from disasters.

There is broad consensus that implementing the globally endorsed Hyogo Framework is critical to saving lives and livelihoods.

This Centre and Office will be integral to meeting that goal.

Thank you once again for your leadership and vision.