ROME, DECEMBER 28 – Italy is ready to continue working for the reduction of disaster risks, at a time where pandemics, economic crises and climate change are increasing dramatic events on the planet, the Italian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Emanuela Del Re, said during a recent meeting with Mami Mizutori, Head of the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR).
Del Re expressed satisfaction for the ongoing collaboration with the UNDRR, and highlighted her concern for the humanitarian effects that climate change has -and will continue to have- on the African continent, in particular for food security and the forced displacement of populations.
Italy, she said, attaches great importance to its partnership with the African continent, one based on collaboration, mutual learning and capacity building activities. She furthermore brought attention to the exchange of experiences, in risk prevention and reduction, between research centers and the academic world, in a north-south and south-south cooperative optic.
“Preparation is central to Italy’s humanitarian strategy, which is based on a sustainable, holistic and informed approach to disaster risk,” explained the vice-minister, “Behind our ‘partnership with Africa’ is the idea of strengthening the capacity of the African continent to assess, prepare and act promptly -in a coordinated manner, at various levels- when a disaster occurs”. Finally, Del Re stressed the importance of identifying risk profiles. To this end, she confirmed to Mizutori that Italy will continue to support the UNDRR in its commitment in Africa this upcoming year. (@OnuItalia)
