Thank you Madame Moderator,

Israel would like to thank the President of the General Assembly for organizing this informal debate as well as the panelists for their excellent presentations. We are all well aware of the necessity of initiatives to reduce the harm caused by disasters. This debate allows us the opportunity to learn more about the best ways to implement and design such initiatives and assist in poverty reduction.

My comment is related to Ms. Saumura’s presentation on the importance of low-cost mechanisms and the benefit of their efficiency.

 

As a small, but densely populated country, Israel is constantly seeking new ways to better organize itself to reduce the risk of disasters. In fact, during the past Commission on Sustainable Development, Israel hosted a side event that addressed this very issue in regards to prevention of, preparedness for, and response to chemical accidents. To minimize the harm of chemical accidents, Israel has established information and response centers that oversee coordination between different response forces, collect data from the scene and from the Meteorological Service, perform risk assessments, and provide vital information to the public and emergency services. This well-organized but low-cost coordination has greatly reduced the risk posed by potential chemical accidents. Israel continues to develop expertise in disaster management and risk reduction, sharing these practices and models with the international community.

 

Thank you.