The Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning System (IOTWS), contributed to by the ESCAP Multi-Donor Trust Fund for Tsunami, Disaster and Climate Preparedness will save an estimated 1,000 lives per year over the next 100 years.

For every $1 invested in storm, cyclone and flood warning prediction systems in Bangladesh, the estimated return is between $8 and $500 for a 10-year period.

Contact

List of experts available for interview

Head of Delegation:

• Dr. Shamshad Akhtar, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of ESCAP – (English)

Members:

• Mr. Shun-ichi Murata, Deputy Executive Secretary- (English/Japanese)
• Ms. Shamika Sirimanne, Director, Information and Communications Technology and Disaster Risk Reduction Division (English)
• Mr. Kiliparti Ramakrishna, Director, ESCAP Subregional Office for East and North-East Asia (English)
• Ms. Rikke Munk Hansen, Chief of Economic and Environment Statistics Section, Statistics Division – (English)
• Mr. Puji Pujiono, Regional Adviser on Disaster Risk Reduction, Information and Communications Technology and Disaster Risk Reduction Division – (English/Indonesian)
• Ms. Nobuko Kajiura, Economic Affairs Officer, Subregional Office for East and North-East Asia (English/Japanese)

Communication focal point

Francyne Harrigan, +66 81 835 8677

About ESCAP

The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) is the regional development arm of the United Nations. ESCAP is a regional platform for member States to develop multi-sectoral regional policies and to promote cooperation. It has served intergovernmental regional policymaking in disaster risk reduction and facilitated regional approaches among member States, such as applying the latest advances in space technology and Geographic Information Systems (GIS), as well as also establishing a multi-donor trust fund for tsunami, disaster and climate preparedness as an innovative financing mechanism.

ESCAP also delivers specific policy advice and technical support in areas such as the integration of DRR into development planning and financing, mainstreaming DRR into sectors such as disaster statistics and disability-inclusive policies. It also looks at aspects of public-private partnerships, urban development and water and environment. ESCAP co-leads the technical working group on environment and disaster risk management under the auspices of the Regional Coordination Mechanism to ensure UN regional coherence in DRR.

Website link: www.unescap.org