Iran, UN Agencies Launch First Regional Seismic Risk Reduction Centre
Three and half years after a massive earthquake killed more than 26,000 people in the ancient city of Bam, Iran, a
regional centre to reduce the damage from such seismic threats was launched in the country today by the Government and
the United Nations unit focussed on disaster mitigation.
According to the UN Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR), which has signed a memorandum of understanding for
cooperation with the Iranian Government, the Asian Centre on Seismic Risk Reduction will build awareness and provide
training in order to improve construction urban planning standards, develop appropriate early warning systems and
enhance disaster management and encourage a "culture of safety."
Through these efforts, it will encourage regional and inter-regional networking and partnerships to reduce seismic
damage, the UNISDR said. It will also assist States to implement the Hyogo Framework for Action, a 10 year plan approved
in Kobe, Japan by 168 Governments in 2005 to make nations and communities more resilient to disasters.
"Although earthquakes can not be prevented, negative impacts of earthquake can be minimized by reducing risks and
vulnerability through effective use of expertise and information technology," said Salvano Briceño, Director of the
UN/ISDR Secretariat.
"The region has a lot of knowledge and experience in seismic risk assessment that can be shared and can contribute to
reduce the vulnerabilities of many populations," he added.
South, west and central Asia are among the most earthquake-prone regions in the world, according to UNISDR. Earthquakes
are responsible for 73 per cent of the deaths and 51 per cent of the economic damages caused by all natural disasters in
the region, which include floods, drought and landslides.
The launch of the Centre, to be established by the Government and supported by a consortium of international
organizations, coincides with the Fifth International Confere Engineering, which will take place in Tehran next week
May.
ENDS