Archived Newsroom • Press Release |
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ITU’s 2nd Global Forum on Emergency Telecommunications
adopts ICT strategies to reduce impact of natural disasters
Forum recognizes the key role of information & communication
technologies in preventing and mitigating disaster impact
Kuwait City, 28 January 2016 – Over 500 participants from 70
countries attending ITU’s
2nd Global Forum on Emergency Telecommunications: Saving Lives
(GET2016, Kuwait City, 26-28 January), underscored the importance of ICTs in
disaster early warning and response through the launch of two important new
global initiatives, the ITU Network of Volunteers for Emergency
Telecommunications and the Global Emergency Fund for Rapid Response.
Held at Kuwait City’s Regency Hotel, the
GET2016 forum discussed trends and emerging technological
innovations, financing mechanisms, country case studies, challenges in deploying
ICTs in disaster zones, climate change issues and the role of the private sector
and other non-state stakeholders. It also featured a series of exhibits
featuring solutions for the most effective use of ICT in emergencies.
ICTs play a critical role in disaster risk reduction. Paragraph 33 of the
Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction
emphasizes the importance of investing in, developing, maintaining and
strengthening early warning systems, disaster risk and emergency communications,
social technologies and hazard-monitoring telecommunication systems. It also
stresses the importance of promoting the resilience of new ICT infrastructure.
“This was a very successful event,” said ITU Secretary-General Houlin Zhao.
“Nearly every day, a disaster strikes somewhere in the world. The high number of
participants reflects the common will to join forces to help reduce the impact
of disasters.”
The adopted outcomes of GET-2016 provide strategic guidance to the national
and international community and will result in increased knowledge of the role
different entities could play in giving telecommunications/ICT a central role in
disaster mitigation and management.
“At this Forum, we have adopted practical strategies to strengthen the
world’s response in emergencies,” said the GET2016 Chairman, Salim Alozainah,
Chairman and CEO of the Communication and Information Technology Regulatory
Authority (CITRA) during his presentation of the final report of the forum.
“We all gathered in Kuwait to harness the enormous potential of
telecommunications and ICT to save lives when disasters strike,” said Brahima
Sanou. “This forum has helped forge partnerships that will be key to making our
goal a reality.”
Launching the ITU Network of Volunteers for Emergency Telecommunications
and the Global Emergency Fund for Rapid Response, Mr Sanou invited all
stakeholders to contribute to life-saving initiatives.
Siaosi Sovaleni, Deputy Prime Minister of Tonga, said that “all participants
at the forum agreed that ICT is a key tool for disaster management. They further
stressed the need for a multi-stakeholder approach and showed unwavering support
to the initiatives launched by ITU, as they will greatly help countries to
enhance their capacity and provide accessible resources to mitigate the impact
of natural disasters and save lives.”
Watch the Event Highlights Video and video interviews
here.
Watch live and archived webcasts of key sessions
here.
Follow the event on Twitter at: #ITUGET2016
Visit the GET-2016 Newsroom
here.
For more information, please contact:
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Onsite in Kuwait: |
At ITU Geneva headquarters: |
Monica Albertini
Communication Officer, BDT
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Sarah Parkes
Chief, Media Relations and Public Information, ITU
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