Statement by H.E. Mrs. Mar\u00eda Fernanda Espinosa Garc\u00e9s, President of the 73rd<\/sup> Session of the UN General Assembly<\/h3>\n5 November 2018<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.un.org\/pga\/73\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/53\/2018\/11\/TsunamiDay1-300x169.jpg\")
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It\u2019s a true privilege to be here.<\/p>\n
I would like to acknowledge the Permanent Representatives of Japan, Chile and Indonesia for making it possible to be here.<\/p>\n
I would also like to acknowledge his Excellency Mr. Koro Bessho, Permanent Representative of Japan,<\/p>\n
Ms. Mami Muzitori, Special Representative of the Secretary General on Disaster Risk Reduction,<\/p>\n
Ms. Asako Okai, Assistant Secretary General and Director of UNDP\u2019s Crisis Bureau,<\/p>\n
Excellencies, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,<\/em><\/p>\nThe tsunami that took the lives of more than two thousand people in Indonesia in September, is a stark reminder that these events can be unpredictable, powerful and devastating.<\/p>\n
So, all my condolences to the people of Indonesia, Mr. Ambassador.<\/p>\n
And while they are, thankfully, few and far between, when they do occur the impact can be catastrophic. With only moment\u2019s notice, entire cities, villages, lives and livelihoods can be, quite literally, washed away.<\/p>\n
In the last two decades alone, we have seen powerful tsunamis devastate countries in the Indian Ocean region and leave the city of Fukushima in ruins, for example. Taken together, these events have cost the lives of almost three hundred thousand people.<\/p>\n
Putting aside the tragic loss of life for a moment, the impact on social and economic development is equally as profound. The Indian Ocean Tsunami led to at least $20 billion in losses, while the Fukushima tsunami, one of the most devastating disasters in history, cost more than $300 billion.<\/p>\n
These are not just numbers, these are hard-won development gains. Critical infrastructure, such as schools and hospitals, are lost, and entire livelihoods are upended, creating new pools of poverty.<\/p>\n
For countries and regions at risk of earthquakes and tsunamis, avoiding such losses requires investing in risk-informed development. This includes putting in place and enforcing the right systems and processes, such as no-build zones and better building codes.<\/p>\n
On the human side, strengthening public awareness and preparedness are the only avenues available, and must be pursued with every effort at our disposal.<\/p>\n
And, given the disproportionate impact on women, on persons with disabilities, the elderly, preparedness measures must empower all people, leaving no one behind.<\/p>\n
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Dear friends,<\/em><\/p>\nSince the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami, great strides have been made to enhance disaster preparedness:<\/p>\n
\n- Tsunami-detection systems have been deployed in the Indian and Pacific Oceans;<\/li>\n
- The Strengthening School Preparedness for Tsunamis project has seen over 100 schools and benefit nearly sixty thousand students.<\/li>\n
- The Making Cities Resilient Campaign, led by UNISDR, has helped to strengthen disaster preparedness in cities around the world; and<\/li>\n
- The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction has put in place the policy and institutional framework for concrete implementation at all levels.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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<\/p>\n
It\u2019s a true privilege to be here.<\/p>\n
I would like to acknowledge the Permanent Representatives of Japan, Chile and Indonesia for making it possible to be here.<\/p>\n
I would also like to acknowledge his Excellency Mr. Koro Bessho, Permanent Representative of Japan,<\/p>\n
Ms. Mami Muzitori, Special Representative of the Secretary General on Disaster Risk Reduction,<\/p>\n
Ms. Asako Okai, Assistant Secretary General and Director of UNDP\u2019s Crisis Bureau,<\/p>\n
Excellencies, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,<\/em><\/p>\n The tsunami that took the lives of more than two thousand people in Indonesia in September, is a stark reminder that these events can be unpredictable, powerful and devastating.<\/p>\n So, all my condolences to the people of Indonesia, Mr. Ambassador.<\/p>\n And while they are, thankfully, few and far between, when they do occur the impact can be catastrophic. With only moment\u2019s notice, entire cities, villages, lives and livelihoods can be, quite literally, washed away.<\/p>\n In the last two decades alone, we have seen powerful tsunamis devastate countries in the Indian Ocean region and leave the city of Fukushima in ruins, for example. Taken together, these events have cost the lives of almost three hundred thousand people.<\/p>\n Putting aside the tragic loss of life for a moment, the impact on social and economic development is equally as profound. The Indian Ocean Tsunami led to at least $20 billion in losses, while the Fukushima tsunami, one of the most devastating disasters in history, cost more than $300 billion.<\/p>\n These are not just numbers, these are hard-won development gains. Critical infrastructure, such as schools and hospitals, are lost, and entire livelihoods are upended, creating new pools of poverty.<\/p>\n For countries and regions at risk of earthquakes and tsunamis, avoiding such losses requires investing in risk-informed development. This includes putting in place and enforcing the right systems and processes, such as no-build zones and better building codes.<\/p>\n On the human side, strengthening public awareness and preparedness are the only avenues available, and must be pursued with every effort at our disposal.<\/p>\n And, given the disproportionate impact on women, on persons with disabilities, the elderly, preparedness measures must empower all people, leaving no one behind.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”1_2″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.12.2″]<\/p>\n Dear friends,<\/em><\/p>\n Since the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami, great strides have been made to enhance disaster preparedness:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″][et_pb_code _builder_version=”3.12.2″]\n\n\n