KUALA LUMPUR: Officials from 39 Asian countries are in Kuala Lumpur to discuss policies to help reduce the impact of disasters.

The United Nations estimate that natural disasters cost Asian countries over US$2.95 billion in damages in the first six months of this year alone, with about 228 000 lives lost and over 109 million people affected.

According to experts, the numbers affected could have been significantly reduced if risk reduction action plans had been put in place.

They explain scientists have the tools to predict cyclones and earthquakes but the information is not disseminated quickly enough.

Said Dr Bhichit Rattakul, Executive Director of the Asian Disaster Preparedness Center: “The government has been aware of the Cyclone Nargis coming to Myanmar five or six days earlier, but most important is that there is no such very comprehensive preparing for the community itself. Most countries in Asia Pacific, especially in high risk areas, lack preparedness.

Experts add that the issue of disaster risk reduction is often sidelined.

“In the wake of the global financial crisis, we can see governments and institutions focusing on financial management, and trying to avert economic losses while not focusing on disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation,” said Senator Loren Legarda, a champion for disaster risk reduction at the UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction.

“Sometimes, (the governments don’t realise) that economic losses can be averted if we are prepared and we are not reactionary,” he continued. “In the Philippines, four per cent of our GDP is lost economically because of rehabilitation and reconstruction, which can be used for food, medicine and children.”

In 2005, governments signed a Hyogo Framework for Action to demonstrate their commitment to disaster risk reduction.

This week, they will be meeting in Malaysia to further discuss implementation on the ground.

- CNA/yb