COUNTRY
STATEMENT BY HON. MIZENGO P. PINDA (MP), PRIME MINISTER OF THE UNITED REPUBLIC
OF TANZANIA PRESENTED AT THE THIRD UNITED NATIONS WORLD CONFERENCE ON DISASTER
RISK REDUCTION 14TH TO 18TH MARCH, 2015 SENDAI, JAPAN
Chairperson;
Excellences
Heads of States and Government;
Honorable
Ministers;
Distinguished
Participants;
Ladies and
Gentlemen.
It is a great honour to participate in this Third World Conference on Disaster Risk
Reduction which brings together distinguished Leaders and Technocrats from all
over the World. This gathering is a testimony of the importance we all attach
to disaster risk reduction in the world.
Chairperson;
On behalf of the Government of the
United Republic of Tanzania, allow me to congratulate you the Chairperson and
other members of the Bureau, on your election to preside over this important
Conference. Let me also on behalf of my delegation convey my sincere
appreciation to the Government of Japan for a warm welcome accorded to my
delegation since our arrival in this beautiful Country and also for agreeing
and supporting the hosting of this important Conference.
We also applaud the UN and Member
States for their contributions that
culminated to this important World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction, whose objective is to review the
Hyogo Framework
into a successor regime for Disaster Reduction which will be consistent to the
Post 2015 Development Agenda. We believe that this
Conference will provide yet another opportunity to renew our collective
commitments to review and jointly tackle disaster related problems facing our
Countries and World at large taking into account the sustainability paradigm
and climate change challenges.
Chairperson,
The
outcome of Rio +20 “the future we want” ultimately defined the future approach
in our socio economic development and resilience that take into account
disaster risk concerns. The Rio Principles defined in clear terms the manner in
which the World should address the current and future global challenges.
Disaster Risk Reduction is one of those issues that call for a new approach consistent
with current sustainable development paradigm.
My
delegation views are that the successor Hyogo Framework II to be adopted here
in Sendai should scale up the level of ambitions in addressing the disasters
and risks that are currently challenging our Countries. Hyogo Framework II
should not lose sight that the Post 2015 Development Agenda which has culminated to
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) a successor of MDGs which will continue to
be a blue print that will address
unfinished business of MDGs and thus, building resilience in the communities
will help to support new goals that will retain progress made at the Country
level under the previous Hyogo Framework (2006).
Chairperson,
In
focusing on the current outcome document under the negotiations, It should be
recalled that the new Disaster Risk Reduction framework ultimately will become
the point of reference for Governments and practitioners when it comes to its implementation. We are aware that a
critical mass of political concession is needed to agree on a document that
will provide guidance to all of us and form a means of implementation for Hyogo
Framework II.
On the basis of the foregoing, my delegation
is of the view that Countries are not equal in terms of their capability to
finance the implementation of the outcome document. It is also true that we
cannot bear equal responsibilities as such. The inclusion of the principle of
Common But Differentiated Responsibilities (CBDR) as part of the new framework,
as mentioned in the compilation text of the Sendai Declaration is vitally
important.
Tanzania
is satisfied with the balance achieved by the Open Working Group (OWG) on SDGs,
in particular goal 17 on Means of Implementation. We recommend a similar
approach to the adoption of Disaster Risk Reduction framework.
Chairperson;
Looking at the Continent, we are noticing that
disasters are on the rise, in terms of their magnitude and impact. Every year,
disasters not only deprive millions of people of food security, access to clean
drinking water, social and economic services, but also reverse development gains
and impede further socio-economic progress. In addition, the enormous
humanitarian relief necessitated as a result of preventable disasters diverts
billions of US Dollars, which could have
been used in engagements to enhance prosperity of the people. In this context,
my delegation fully subscribes to the Statement of the African group, and that
addressing issues outlined therein, would indeed address the many challenges
faced by Africa in General and the United Republic of Tanzania in particular.
Chairperson;
As for Tanzania, my Country is
exposed to multitude of hazards that have had far-reaching consequences
impeding our socio-economic growth. Climate change, poverty, population
pressure and environmental degradation amongst others, expose communities and
households at a higher risk of disaster impact. Recent events include floods, epidemics, drought, fire, road
accidents and marine accident.
All these have impacted heavily on the
economic development and leading to loss of lives, infrastructure destruction
and disruption of livelihoods of our people.
Tanzania
will continue to improve and increase investment in addressing the underlying
risk factors on natural disasters in the communities and strengthening the
Early Warning Systems. The emphasis on natural disasters is due to the fact
that the majority of our people live in rural areas and most of their economic activities are climate and weather sensitive,
in particular agriculture which also contributes a large
share of Country’s GDP.
Chairperson;
In
addressing the Country’s vulnerability to disasters, Tanzania is actively
participating in global and regional initiatives for disaster risk reduction
and has made considerable progress in the implementing the Hyogo Framework for
Action, the Africa Regional Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction, the Southern
Africa Development Community (SADC) Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Strategy
and The East Africa Community (EAC) Disaster Risk Reduction and Management
Strategy.
The
Government will continue to enforce the incorporation of disaster risk
reduction component into all development programmes implemented by each
Government Department and Agency at all levels. The Government believes that
disaster risk reduction is a cross cutting issue and should not be viewed as a
separate discipline, rather should be integrated into the broad spectrum of
development activities in a cross-sectoral approach.
Chairperson;
Drawing
from their experience my Country has adopted an integrated risk reduction
strategy to address the inadequacy of plans, legislations and initiated cross
cutting institutional structures and systems in building resilience in the
economy and the community at large under the first Hyogo Framework through
capacity building. However, the efforts need to be scaled up in order to
address the recurring disaster risks and increasing costs of recovery.
Chairperson,
In conclusion, Tanzania will provide full support to the new
framework for disaster risk reduction and will collaborate with UN,
International Community and Regional bodies to ensure the World and in
particular our communities are resilience to disasters. Tanzania is fully
committed to play its role in the Regional and Sub-regional context of
implementation and ensuring that disaster risk reduction gets the attention it
deserves, especially when addressing the underlying root cause of community
vulnerability to disasters and hazards such as drought, floods, epidemics,
pests and animal diseases. We would also like to give assurance that the
Government of Tanzania will give full support on the efforts to find solutions
to the challenges posed by disasters in order to make sure that, this World
becomes a safer place for all of us and for the future generation.
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