“This edition focuses on early warning systems, building a preventive culture,” said the director of the National Emergency System (Sinae), Sergio Rico, at the opening of the 5th Risk Reduction Week. In addition, he announced that the 8th Regional Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction in the Americas and the Caribbean will be held between February 28 and March 2, 2023 in Punta del Este.
The inauguration of the event took place this Tuesday 11 in the Executive Tower. Also participating were the Undersecretary of National Defense, Rivera Elgue; the head of the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, Raúl Salazar, and representatives of the Mercosur Meeting of Ministers and High Authorities for Comprehensive Risk Management, whose presidency pro tempore Uruguay exercises until the end of the year.
Rico stated that, although it seems that in our country there are no major catastrophes, it does not mean that there are no risks. In this sense, he warned that society contributes to reduce or increase these alarms.
“We must reflect, increase the conception, raise awareness and become aware of these issues, in addition to adopting guidelines for self-care and the environment. We must build a preventive culture, to become a community better prepared to manage emergencies, to be more resilient”, she emphasized.
The hierarch revealed that risks can be reduced through early warning procedures and exemplified that in Uruguay there are organizations, such as the Uruguayan Institute of Meteorology or the National Water Directorate, that alert for rainfall, forest fires or strong winds. “It is a system that is well oiled, but we must continue working on it,” he said.
Salazar highlighted the commitment of the Government of Uruguay to advance in a priority agenda for the reduction of risks and disasters, both natural and biological or induced by the human being. In addition, he considered that it is a commitment of civil society and the science and technology sector, among others, to be prepared for certain threats.
In his speech, he highlighted how our country coped with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, especially in the areas of early warning, science and technology.
On the occasion, it was announced that the 8th Regional Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction in the Americas and the Caribbean will take place between February 28 and March 2, 2023 in Punta del Este, Uruguay.
The aforementioned platforms are multisectoral forums in which the different actors that work in reducing the risk of emergencies and disasters participate: national, subnational and local governments, intergovernmental, international, non-governmental, community organizations, scientific and academic institutions, the private sector , donors and the media. They currently operate in Africa, the Americas and the Caribbean, the Arab States, Asia-Pacific, and Europe and Central Asia.
