These actors are best placed to recognize and address disaster risk accumulation in their own environment, and represent the first line of response in case of disaster.

This is increasingly the case in peace operations, disaster relief, and other complex military operations.

It was considered that the procedure to opt out on a case by case basis would provide an additional burden upon host States suffering from a natural disaster.

In this regard, several delegations expressed their support for allowing objection to be made on a case by case basis subsequent to a natural disaster and prior to the deployment of emergency assistance.

UNDP is supporting El Niño related case study projects for the purpose of integrating disaster mitigation and preparedness into development and rehabilitation programmes.

The scope of legal protection in the case of an operation for the delivery of humanitarian assistance in the event of a natural disaster had also been discussed.

First, the tsunami disaster illustrated the lack of a systematic disaster management framework, including disaster mitigation measures, in many countries.

. Mobile satellite communications systems, domestic, regional and international, provided a robust and cost effective means of re establishing immediate communications in case of emergencies for the disaster relief operations.

In case of disaster, an amount agreed with the donor is allocated as a voluntary contribution for a specific relief operation and the funds are disbursed without delay.

This is the largest metropolitan area disaster in decades, and it was not a natural disaster it was a disaster of engineering.

Fourth, the optional protocol would not apply to operations undertaken for the purpose of delivering emergency humanitarian assistance in case of natural disaster unless a host State explicitly consented thereto.

These are not isolated cases. For every disaster and high profile case that hits the headlines, there are many more that we never hear about.

Some delegations were of the view that making the declaration subsequent to the natural disaster properly reflected the notion that the element of risk was not always present in those situations and that it thus needed to be addressed on a case by case basis.

Each of these crises involved a highly technical issue, but also a much broader set of political problems. And, in each case, the intertwining of the technical and the political produced disaster.

This Protocol shall apply to an operation conducted for the purpose of delivering emergency humanitarian assistance in case of natural disaster unless the host State expresses its objection to such application.

Regarding article II, paragraph 3, relating to operations undertaken for the purpose of delivering emergency humanitarian assistance in case of natural disaster, the Chairman identified four main positions held by delegations.

Disaster.

Disaster.

In the eastern Caribbean, a regional initiative the Eastern Caribbean Donor Group has been established to support the coordination of external emergency assistance in case of a major natural or technological disaster.

In their view, a declaration on a case by case basis was a realistic way to address the opt out issue, since it provided an opportunity for a State to determine whether the conditions in a particular natural disaster required the application of the protocol.

Presentations also covered case studies and pilot projects on the use of satellite technology to enhance food security, education and health, and to upgrade communications infrastructure and disaster early warning systems.

28. A number of common denominators for national and regional opportunities for El Niño related disaster reduction have already emanated from the various assessment and case study activities referred to above.

Where necessary, the Member States will identify a coordination body, authorized to organize interaction of disaster management and rescue services, and creation of a system of assistance in case of natural disasters and emergency situations.

Relevant United Nations organizations and donor Governments should strengthen the capacity of disaster prone countries in disaster mitigation, preparedness, response and post disaster recovery within a disaster risk reduction framework, by supporting relevant initiatives in this field.

Disaster preparedness

Disaster response

Disaster recovery

Disaster Relief

Diagonal Disaster

Disaster control

Why disaster?

Peter Haas Haiti's disaster of engineering

Ministry of Environment and Disaster Management

(h) UK activities in disaster management the Disaster Monitoring Constellation , by the representative of the United Kingdom

165. Disaster prevention, mitigation and preparedness are of primary importance for reducing the need for disaster relief.

The estimate of 328,000 for general operating expenses for the biennium 2006 2007 is for Internet service provider and off site electronic data backup storage services ( 110,000) and for disaster recovery services ( 218,000) which will provide fully equipped, off site office facilities for staff in case of disaster and to maintain business operations.

20. Welcomes the global review of disaster reduction initiatives coordinated by the secretariat of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction, and emphasizes the importance of periodic review as a means of discussing disaster trends, assessing policies aimed at mitigating the impact of disaster and offering examples of successful initiatives

(a) Ability to acquire a full view of the disaster stricken area within 2.5 hours of the occurrence of the disaster

Emphasizing also the importance of integrating risk reduction into all phases of disaster management, development planning and post disaster recovery,

An audit of ESCAP technology management disclosed that security, disaster planning and disaster recovery needed to be strengthened.

In support of this, UNDP will deploy national disaster risk reduction advisers to assist national efforts in capacity building for disaster risk reduction in 20 of the most disaster prone countries of the world.

4. Prior to the programme of United Nations reform, the natural disaster reduction subprogramme of the Department of Humanitarian Affairs of the United Nations Secretariat was the responsibility of the Disaster Reduction Division which comprised the operational responsibilities of the Disaster Mitigation Branch, the Disaster Management Training Programme Unit and the specific mandated responsibilities of the secretariat for the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction.

HUMANITARIAN AND DISASTER RELIEF IMPLEMENTATION OF THE

STRENGTHENING OF THE COORDINATION OF HUMANITARIAN AND DISASTER

We believe that strengthening of the coordination of humanitarian and disaster relief must be done holistically, as is disaster management itself.