May 14, 2026 02:40 am (IST)
Follow us:
UN launches 'Tacloban Declaration' to strengthen disaster readiness
New York, Jun 5 (IBNS): As the Philippines continues to rebuild from Typhoon Haiyan, the top United Nations official on disaster risk reduction is among the more than 150 representatives, mostly from Asia and Europe, participating in a conference that will detail new policies and principles involving disaster preparation.
Speaking in the capital, Manila, Special Representative Margareta Wahlström noted that opportunities exist now to address underlying risks to ensure that the next disaster will not cause similar devastation, in line with President Benigno Aquino’s policy to ‘build back better.’
Ahead of Wednesday’s start of the three-day conference, participants were scheduled to meet with some of the people and local officials who suffered the brunt of the super typhoon when it swept ashore on 8 November 2013.
The typhoon killed thousands and affected nearly 9.8 million people, displaced some 4 million people and destroyed 500,000 homes, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
The storm also devastated the country’s infrastructure, hospitals, schools and public services, causing USD 12 billion in estimated damages.
Among other field visits, the delegates were also expected to tour the Bislig Elementary School in Tanauan, as well as Barangay Pago, the site of a resettlement project for some 40 displaced families.
These visits will supplement discussions on how to apply new technology and innovations into disaster risk reduction policies, as well as how to strengthen the state and other stakeholders in responding to disasters, and how communities can rebuild better.
The conference will also explore ways to improve international coordination and specialization in response to disasters. It is expected to agree on an international disaster risk reduction and management framework called the “Tacloban Declaration.”
That document will come as the decade-old Hyogo Framework of Action (HFA), adopted by the world community as the global paradigm on disaster risk reduction and management, is due to end in 2015.
(Tacloban City, Philippines, was severely hit by Typhoon Haiyan when it hit the Philippines on 8 November 2013. Photo: OCHA/Akiko Yoshida)
Support Our Journalism
We cannot do without you.. your contribution supports unbiased journalism
IBNS is not driven by any ism- not wokeism, not racism, not skewed secularism, not hyper right-wing or left liberal ideals, nor by any hardline religious beliefs or hyper nationalism. We want to serve you good old objective news, as they are. We do not judge or preach. We let people decide for themselves. We only try to present factual and well-sourced news.
Support objective journalism for a small contribution.
Latest Headlines
Putin unleashes ‘Satan 2’: Russia tests ICBM with 35,000 km range
Wed, May 13 2026
Canada FM Anand says country has met NATO’s 2% defence spending target in talks with Rutte
Mon, May 11 2026
Who is Erfan Shakourzadeh? Iran executes young aerospace engineer over alleged US-Mossad spy links
Mon, May 11 2026
Merz says NATO unity remains strong despite US troop pullback plans
Sun, May 10 2026
Iran congratulates White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt on baby, revives Minab School strike row
Sun, May 10 2026
Britain stunned as first openly gay surrogate father charged in rape, trafficking case
Sat, May 09 2026