BY James Kon

Disaster management and climate change are areas being discussed during the four-day Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in Brisbane.

Brunei’s efforts in raising the capacity to address climate change through the Brunei Darussalam National Climate Change Policy was shared by Minister of Home Affairs Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Ahmaddin bin Haji Abdul Rahman in Brunei Darussalam’s country report.

This include the ‘whole-of-nation’ approach, involving grassroots communities and the private sector to support government efforts towards sustainable development.

Brunei Darussalam is also committed to align its national disaster management policy with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, the international agreed upon guidelines, said the minister.

The conference, organised by United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) and the Australian government, aimed to highlight current issues on disasters and management strategies.

Permanent Secretary (Safety and Welfare) at the Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA) Salminan bin Haji Burut is also part of the Brunei Darussalam delegation.

Meanwhile Director of Brunei’s National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC) Colonel (Rtd) Muhd Harrith Rashidi bin Haji Muhd Jamin with officials from the MoHA and NDMC also attended several high-level dialogues and sessions, providing an opportunity for participants to increase knowledge, share experience and best practices.

Around 3,000 individuals from 40 countries have participated in the conference physically or virtually.

The participants include ministers responsible for disaster management as well as senior officials of governments in the region, heads of agencies from the UN, research institutions, media agencies, international volunteer bodies and non-governmental organisations.

Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Ahmaddin also paid a courtesy call on Australia’s Minister for Emergency Management Murray Watt.

The conference, themed ‘From Crisis to Resilience: Transforming the Asia-Pacific Region’s Future Through Disaster Risk Reduction’, focusses on three pillars: investing in resilience and preparedness; shock-proofed on infrastructure and system; and resilient communities.

The conference and its related sessions conclude today.

-- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin