STATEMENT BY AMBASSADOR ALBERT CHUA, PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF SINGAPORE TO THE UNITED NATIONS IN NEW YORK, FOR THEMATIC DEBATE ON DISASTER RISK REDUCTION, 12 APRIL 2012 - INTERACTIVE PANEL DISCUSSION 1: ADDRESSING URBAN RISK THROUGH PUBLIC INVESTMENT

Madam Chairperson,

1    On behalf of Singapore, I would like to convey our concerns to the Government and People of Indonesia following the earthquakes which struck the country. There have been no reports of casualties or major damages. This thematic debate is particularly timely, as it highlights the importance of disaster risk reduction in minimising casualties and damages.

2    Singapore has a land area of 700 square km or 250 square miles. It is bigger than Manhattan but smaller than the five boroughs of New York. Singapore has a population of over five million people. Singapore is relatively free from natural disasters but we are not spared from urban hazards, man-made disasters and terrorist-related threats. We are one of the most densely populated country and city in the world; as such, there is greater need for disaster risk management as the impact of disasters on human lives is multiplied.

3    Singapore is located in the Asia-Pacific region, which has seen more than its fair share of disasters, such as the 2005 Boxing Day tsunami and last year’s earthquake and tsunami in Japan. These disasters brought serious environmental destruction, economic ruin, and social dislocation. Whether they are natural or man-made, disasters have serious negative implications for the three pillars of sustainable development.

4    Singapore regards disaster risk reduction as an important plank in sustainable development. In 2009, we submitted an interim national progress report on the implementation of the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015. To us, disaster risk reduction reduces Singapore’s vulnerability to disasters, and at the same time, increases Singapore’s resilience to cope with disasters.

5    Singapore adopts a pragmatic and holistic approach to disaster risk reduction, underpinned by three key principles. First, we believe in the importance of proper planning and effective implementation of policies in disaster risk reduction. In this context, good regulatory frameworks properly-enforced can help to minimise the effects of disasters and increase the resilience of cities. For example, Singapore has strict building codes. We conduct regular checks and inspections on the structure and soundness of buildings. We mandated by law that every apartment should have a ‘housing shelter’, which provides protection during emergencies. The shelter is a windowless, ventilated, reinforced-concrete room with a thick metal door and enough space to fit a twin bed. It is almost always located near the kitchen, in the centre of the building, by an elevator shaft.

6    Second, we believe in an integrated approach with clear champions to disaster risk reduction. Singapore has designated an agency - the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) – as the National Emergency response authority. The SCDF chairs an inter-agency response committee and is responsible for contingency plans in the event of disasters. It conducts regular emergency exercises. It also leverages on new technologies for improved incident management, as well as an integrated warning and alert system to the public.

7    Third, we believe in building up the resilience of the community. Community participation is central to disaster risk reduction. Individuals are usually better able to co-ordinate and synergize their efforts in an emergency. The SCDF, our National Emergency response authority, works actively to promote community preparedness, such as through public education in first aid, cardio-pulmonary resuscitation, fire safety, casualty evacuation, emergency procedures and unconventional threats. It also actively engages the private sector, particularly those involved in petroleum and flammable materials, in building up their staff’s basic capacity to combat the situation before the arrival of emergency services.

Madam Chairperson,

8    In a globalised world, disasters know no boundaries. Singapore is of the view that it is important to share knowledge and acquire best practices to better deal with future crises. The SCDF participates actively in the United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) and the International Search and Rescue Advisory Group (INSRAG). It also works with the UN Office for the Coordination for Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, and the certification of the readiness of country teams to attain INSRAG External Classification. The SCDF also shares best practices in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief with other countries by conducting courses in Singapore.

9    At the UN, Singapore co-chairs the Group of Friends on Sustainable Cities with Sweden to promote the notion of ‘sustainable cities’ in the lead-up to Rio+20. The Group of Friends have been exchanging views and best practices relating to important issues, including disaster risk reduction, in the development of sustainable cities. This underlies our view that disaster risk reduction plays a major role in sustainable cities and sustainable development.

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