Indonesian President Yudhoyono receives UN disaster management award

Indonesian President Yudhoyono receives UN disaster management award

2011-05-11 22:17:09 GMT+7 (ICT)

GENEVA (BNO NEWS) -- President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Tuesday received a United Nations award for his achievement in disaster management and risk reduction, the Antara news agency reported on Wednesday.

"I accept this as recognition of the determination and hard work of all Indonesian in responding to the challenges of natural disasters," said the Indonesian president. "Our long-term strategy is disaster risk reduction."

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon announced the award "Global Champion for Disaster Risk Reduction" during the opening ceremony of the Third Session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction in Geneva, Switzerland.

Yudhoyono dedicated the UN award to the people of Indonesia and recognized that the south Asian country is located in one of the most vulnerable regions to natural disasters.

In 2007, Indonesia enacted a law disaster risk reduction mandatory in all developments at factories, buildings, offices, schools, houses and other places. It is one of Yudhoyono's government priorities.

Secretary-General Ban said that the award will encourage other nations to follow Indonesia's success in promoting the people's awareness of the need to prevent disasters and applying it in effective national policies.

"The government has taken anticipatory measures and implemented disaster mitigation efforts. The National Agency for Disaster Mitigation (BNPB) is the evidence of its commitment," said BNPB chief Syamsul Maarif.

The UN award was announced by Ban before delegations from 82 countries. Seventeen of the delegations were led by ministers and minister-level officials. The Geneva conference brought together 2,500 participants from all over the world.

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