EU aid to tackle climate induced natural disasters branded 'inadequate'

EU aid to tackle climate induced natural disasters branded 'inadequate'

By Martin Banks - 23rd February 2012
Climate change is very likely to intensify the water cycle
Konrad Adenauer Stiftung

A conference in Brussels heard that EU overseas aid is "not sufficient" to prevent climate induced humanitarian crises.

The conference on Thursday was told that the EU is an "important provider" of humanitarian aid and has recognised that an emergency response is vital.

But a report presented to the event said, "This is not sufficient and droughts are intensified by climate change."

It went on, "There is an urgent need to focus more on preparedness, disaster risk reduction and sustainable development."

The conference heard that the European commission has been actively involved in disaster risk reduction in the Horn of Africa.

It was said that this initiative had focused on drought preparedness and aims to make local communities more resilient while building their capacity to cope with the impact of recurrent drought.

The report said, "The immediate objective is to reduce the need for emergency response to future droughts."

The report said, "The question has to be asked whether enough has been done in order to improve crisis preparedness in the region.

"Only long term action by development agencies and national governments can deliver effective and sustainable results.

"This can be done by investing in local coordination, better resource management, animal health and planning for contingency measures."

The east African region is one of the so-called hotspots threatened by both droughts and floods, the event heard.

One of those participants, Solomon Abebe Tessema, deputy head of mission at the Ethiopian embassy to the EU, focused on the impact of climate change on natural catastrophes.

He said, "Climate change is very likely to intensify the water cycle, thereby increasing the risk of floods and tropical cyclones.

"Research suggests that both at high latitudes and over most land areas increases in average river runoff and rising sea surface temperature will occur."




Source:- http://www.theparliament.com/latest-news/article/newsarticle/eu-aid-to-tackle-climate-induced-natural-disasters-branded-inadequate/

"The east African region is one of the hotspots where the risk of flash floods is on a very high level."

The conference was organised by the Brussels-based think tank Konrad Adenauer Stiftung.