Making livestock central to disaster response in Asia
Billions of animals affected by disasters could be protected from the recommendations we put forward at a conference in Hanoi, Vietnam, on 15-16 March.
About the conference
Naritsorn (Nort) Pholperm, Project Manager – Animals in Disasters, represented us at the "Regional Conference on Strengthening Resilient Food and Agriculture Systems" – organised by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The conference focussed on implementing the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 in the agriculture sector in Asia and the Pacific.
In 2015, we ensured that animal protection was included in the framework, an international agreement which acts as a guide for governments' actions in reducing disaster risks.
This was a very important conference as it bought together influential policy and practice leaders to examine some of the most important global disaster-related issues. The meeting resulted in a set of recommendations that will be presented and considered at both the 2018 Asian Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction and the FAO Regional Conference for Asia and the Pacific.
Our recommendations, showing livestock as a major source of livelihood, were among the ten livestock-related points advanced for formal consideration. If implemented, this represents a major step forward in the protection of billions of animals.
These two conferences are highly influential, as they will define and shape how countries can meet their commitments to disaster risk reduction, reducing hunger and increasing food security among other critical global issues from now until 2030.
Animals are an important part of the plans
Nort said he was pleased to see participants agree that agriculture – including animals – is a key aspect of livelihood protection and must be part of plans before, during and after disasters.
He said many participants, such as Vietnam government representatives and delegates from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, were familiar with our response and DRR work and welcomed our participation and contribution.
We will keep you updated with any further developments.
As part of our global strategy, by 2020 we will directly benefit the lives of at least 5 million animals through our disaster response work. Find out more about our Animals in Disasters work.