An integrated, multi-hazard, inclusive
approach to address vulnerability, risk
assessment and disaster management,
including prevention, mitigation,preparedness, response and recovery, is an
essential element of a safer world in the
21st Century.
Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on
Sustainable Development
5 September 2002

Wednesday 19 March, Kyoto, Japan, 15:45-18:30
Suehiro Room, Takaragaike Prince Hotel
Kyoto, Japan
Convened bythe Inter-Agency Secretariat of the International Strategy for
Disaster Reduction(UN/ISDR, Geneva)
andthe Asian Disaster Reduction Center(ADRC, Kobe)
To be held within the Session 'Water and Poverty'
coordinated by the Asian Development Bank (ADB)
at the Third World Water Forum

Exploring the linkages between disaster
reduction and the water agenda
Following-up the World Summit on Sustainable
Development
Integration of risk reduction and vulnerability towater related hazards into water management
policies and initiatives
Keynote presentations:Exploring the scope and relevance of disaster
reduction within the context of sustainable
development
Mr. Manuel Dengo, Head of the Water Division in theDepartment for Social and Economic Affairs, United
Nations (UN/DESA)
Addressing the social, economic and environmentalcauses of vulnerability in disaster reduction
Ms. Madeleen Helmer, Climate and Disaster
Preparedness Centre
International Federation of the Red Cross and Red
Crescent Societies (IFRC), the Netherlands

Panel Discussion:
The panel of experts will bring together water experts
in fields such as sustainable development, gender andlivelihoods, as well as disaster risk management.
Panel Experts include:
・ Mr. Junji Miwa, Japanese Ministry of Land andInfrastructure and transportation (MLIT)
・ Prof. Yujiro Ogawa, Fuji Tokoha University, Japanand Former executive director of Asian DisasterReduction Center (ADRC)
・ Dr. Jerry Velasquez, United Nations University (UNU)・ Mr. LeHuu Ti, United Nations Economic and Social
Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP)
・ Mr. Henk van Schaik, Dialogue on Water and Climate(DWC)
・ Dr. Rajib Shaw, United Nations Centre for Regional
Development, (UNCRD)
・ Ms. Mandira Shrestha, International Centre forIntegrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD)
・ Brett Orlando, IUCN.

Resource Exchange
Session participants are provided with opportunities toshare experiences and information as well as gather
documentation on disaster reduction from a wide
range of partners in the field. A background paper on
disaster reduction and water has been prepared andwill be further developed following consultation anddiscussions resulting from the Session.

For more information
United Nations Inter-Agency Secretariat of theInternational Strategy for Disaster Reduction(UN/ISDR)
Palais des Nations
8-14 Avenue de la Paix
CH-1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland
Tel: 41 22 917 2785 Fax: 41 22 917 0563
E-mail: isdr@un.org Website: www.unisdr.org
Logo: ISDR/World Disaster Reduction Campaign
2003

This Session is one of a series of events
comprising the 2003 World Disaster ReductionCampaign. In accordance with the InternationalYear of Freshwater, the Campaign organised bythe UN/ISDR will review the numerous issues
associated with water related disasters,
culminating on the International Day for Natural
Disaster Reduction, 8 October 2003. Its aim is toincrease public awareness of, and participation inmeasures that can be taken to reduce the risk
and vulnerabilities of communities to the negative
impacts of natural hazards.
UN/ISDR invites you to contribute research,
success stories, personal experiences and otherinformation for possible inclusion in the 2003
World Disaster Reduction Campaign informationkit.
For further details about the Campaign andinformation material, please contactMs. Nicole Rencoret rencoret@un.org.