About 5,000 representatives of governments, the private sector and civil societies from 193 countries are in Bali, Indonesia, to attend the 7th session of the Global Platform (GP2022), convened by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) until May 28^th.

Although Thailand did not send a minister to attend this session, the government has issued a statement, saying that it has kept its commitment to the Sendai Framework and has taken steps under other frameworks, including the Paris Agreement, which have been incorporated in the national development strategy to achieve sustainable development, according to Director of International Cooperation Section at Thailand’s Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Pannapa Na Nan.

The session is to follow up on the progress of the commitments to the Sendai Framework, adopted by 187 countries seven years ago, to reduce risk from disasters, loss of life and property and to increase early-warning systems and measures to mitigate impacts from disasters.

Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction Mami Mizutori said during the session that the world has not yet achieved the objective of disaster risk reduction and sustainable development, so this session will provide an opportunity for all stakeholders to accelerate their efforts.

She also said that the world has faced one crisis after another, be it environmental or the war in Ukraine, which have disrupted the efforts.

Head of the Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance Division at the ASEAN Secretariat Riyanti Djalante said that the presence at the meeting of some ASEAN ministers – from Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Brunei and Cambodia – demonstrates the commitment of the regional grouping to achieve the goal of disaster risk reduction and sustainable development.

By Thai PBS World’s ASEAN Desk in Bali, Indonesia