The Indonesian government will host the Fifth Asian Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in October as the region counts the cost of record-breaking disaster losses over the last year. More than 1,000 participants, including government Ministers and high-level representatives from 60 countries will gather in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, at the Conference, October 22-25, to discuss how local policies and practices can make their communities safer against disasters.
Indonesia made disaster risk reduction a national priority following the 2004 Asian tsunami. “As a country which has experienced so many natural hazards, Indonesia is proud to host this important event and to share with other countries its experience in disaster risk reduction because we know that prevention pays,” said President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, President of Indonesia, who was officially appointed Global Champion for Disaster Risk Reduction by the UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon last November.
