Sri Lanka Red Cross launches World Disasters Report 2016

Monday, 6 February 2017 00:42 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Sri Lanka Red Cross Society (SLRCS), along with the International Federation of Red Cross & Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), launched the World Disasters Report 2016 in Colombo on Friday.

The report, which focused on resilience, was aimed at providing key players in disaster management with an overview of the trend as to how disasters would affect vulnerable people and what action was required, according to the SLRCS.

Speaking at the launch, Sri Lanka Red Cross Director General Neville Nanayakkara emphasised the role of the Red Cross in times of disasters, especially when it went away from the spotlight. “The Red Cross is always there and we continue to be there” he said.

Also addressing the gathering was SLRCS Deputy Director General Sudath Madugalle, who gave an overview of what the World Disasters Report comprises and what needed to be done for all key players.

Afterwards, IFRC Head of Country Cluster Team Leon Prop handed over the World Disasters Report to the National Secretary of SLRCS Nimal Kumar, who then presented the report to the Guest of Honour Secretary of the Ministry of Disaster Management S. S. Miyanawala.

Delivering the keynote speech, the Country Representative of International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Prof. Ananda Mallawathanthri, said that the humanitarian need had reached unprecedented levels and the aid sector was struggling to cope.

“Raising more money to meet aever-increasing need is not going to be adequate to handle future crises. Counting the number of people we reach is no longer a sufficient measure of success. Something must change. Pre-disaster investment must be taken more seriously to stem the increase in the number of crises,” he said, adding that the report painted a vivid picture as to the path ahead.

Later on a panel discussion also took place with the participation of Gothami Chandraratne from the Disaster Management Department of SLRCS; Dr. Vishaka Hidallage - UNDP Assistant Country Director; Dr. Ananda Mallawathanthri - Country Representative of IUCN; Prof. Samantha Hettiarachchi – Professor of the Civil Engineering Department at the University of Moratuwa; Anoja Seniviratne - the Director of Planning and Research at the Ministry of Disaster Management.