Intervention by H.E. Mr. Vitavas Srivihok, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Thailand to the United Nations

Virtual Meeting of Group of Friends of Disaster Risk Reduction

Thursday 11 March 2021, 9.00-12.00 hrs., WebEx

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Excellencies,

Dear Friends,

I would like to thank Australia, Indonesia, Norway and Peru for organizing this meeting. This Group of Friends has always been a useful platform for exchanging ideas and for raising the visibility of DRR in New York.

And today, I would particularly express our appreciation for the briefing by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Disaster Risk Reduction, Ms. Mami Mizutori.

Please allow me to take this opportunity to share a few reflections and updates.

Next Thursday marks the 6^th anniversary of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction. We are looking at a very different world from 2015 due to the unprecedented scale of a pandemic. But the spirit and principles of Sendai remain intact, and even more relevant at this juncture where the world seeks to recover from the impacts of COVID-19, to build back better and to foster long-term resilience.

On the other hand, COVID-19 is a stark reminder of the significance of the health aspect of disaster preparedness, risk reduction and recovery efforts. We reiterate the importance of implementing the Bangkok Principles on the health aspects of the Sendai Framework, and hope to see the Principles be a key component leading up to the midterm review in 2023, as well as in other processes such as the Global Platform for DRR in Bali and the AMCDRR in Brisbane in 2022.

At the regional level, Thailand is preparing to table a resolution in ESCAP under the theme of this year’s session “Building back better from crises through regional cooperation in Asia and the Pacific”, where we seek to build on the Bangkok Principles in supporting countries in the Asia-Pacific to build resilience in the health aspect in the context of COVID recovery. We would appreciate if members of ESCAP who are in the Group can support this effort in the upcoming negotiations.

On this note, we also would like to stress the important role of effective regional disaster preparedness mechanisms such as the ESCAP Multi-Donor Trust Fund for Tsunami, Disaster and Climate Preparedness in Indian Ocean and Southeast Asian Countries, which requires sufficient resource for its functioning. Last year, Thailand has contributed an additional 30,000 US Dollars to replenish the Fund and would like to encourage others to do so.

At the national level, Thailand is updating our National Disaster Risk Management Plan for 2021-2025 which will focus on building resilience, including through partnerships will all sectors of the society. 

In closing, I would like to once again thank the organizers and the SRSG for making this dialogue possible. Thailand stands ready to working closely with all of you and with other members of the Group towards the midterm review and to 2030.

Thank you.

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