UNISDR head, Mami Mizutori,Deputy Prime Minister, Enkhtuvshin Ulziisaikhan, and Prime Minister, Khurelsukh Ukhnaa,on stage today with singing schoolchildren at the opening of the Asian Ministerial Conference on Disaser Risk Reduction (Photo: Tejas Patnaik, UNISDR)

By Denis McClean

ULAANBAATAR, 3 July, 2018 - A ten year-old school girl almost stole the show. In plain, simple language Maralgoo recited how it makes her sad when she sees people dying or losing their homes in disasters on TV but feels happy when she sees rescuers at work.

Maralgwo counts herself lucky that she attends a school in the Mongolian capital, Ulaanbaatar, where she takes part in earthquake drills and learns first aid.

She closed her recitation to a rapt audience at the opening ceremony for the three-day Asian Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (AMCDRR) with a quiet plea, “open your hearts and your minds to make a better world for all of us.”

She was a hard act to follow but Prime Minister Khurelsukh Ukhnaa was up to the task as someone who has attended the last two World Conferences on Disaster Risk Reduction and was himself declared a DRR Champion at the last Regional Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction in Cancun, Mexico, in 2017.

Prime Minister Khurelsukh said this AMCDRR would be a dynamic event hosted by a unique, landlocked country with extreme temperature swings and a large nomadic population, vulnerable to range of disasters including the deadly winter dzuds, earthquakes, forest fires and drought.

“The pursuit of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction is a clear necessity for this region,” he said in reference to the global plan adopted three years ago to reduce disaster losses.

Mongolia is deeply concerned at the increase in frequency and scope of disasters. He expressed concern also for Asia as a whole which includes  the vast majority of the world’s disaster affected people.

Outlining preconditions for sustainable development he identified the importance of information and knowledge sharing,  including DRR in education up to third level, resilient agriculture, business continuity and the creation of financial mechanisms to invest in disaster resilience.

The Prime Minister noted that Mongolia is organizing two special sessions in the coming days on resilient urban infrastructure and public-private partnerships.

He was preceded by the Deputy Prime Minister, Enkhtuvshin Ulziisaikhan, who welcomed the 2,500 participants from over 50 countries and 1,584 international organisations and NGOs who would be engaged in a host of special sessions and side events in a very inclusive Conference where all stakeholders are taking part.