*EPF107 03/22/2004
Text: Water-related Disasters are Focus of World Water Day 2004
(Science and preparedness can lessen the hardships, experts say) (1100)

Water-related disasters -- floods, droughts, and water-borne diseases -- affect more than 200 million people each year, claiming more victims than war, according to data released by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) on March 22, World Water Day 2004. The WMO said the damage done thwarts sustainable development and perpetuates poverty.

The WMO is advocating development of "preventive and proactive strategies" to minimize the human and economic costs of natural disasters, according to a press release issued from the United Nations agency's headquarters in Geneva. Better forecasting and earlier warnings would help mitigate the damage of disasters, it said.

"In addition, systematic studies of meteorological and hydrological phenomena and observations related to cyclones, severe storms, floods, landslides, mudflows and El Niño are essential for a clear understanding of how and why natural hazards happen, and how they can escalate into disasters," said Michel Jarraud, secretary-general of the WMO.

World Water Day, which is observed every March 22, has been recognized annually since 1992 by sanction of the U.N. General Assembly.

Following is the text of the WMO press release:

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World Meteorological Organization
Press Release
For use of the information media, Not an official record

WORLD WATER DAY 22 MARCH 2004: "WATER AND DISASTERS"
THE WORLD METEOROLOGICAL ORGANIZATION CALLS FOR PREVENTIVE AND PROACTIVE APPROACH TO DISASTER MANAGEMENT

Geneva, 19 March 2004 -- Loss of life and economic damage caused by natural disasters can be significantly reduced through a shift towards preventive and proactive strategies, based on authoritative weather forecasts and warnings. Progress in meteorological and hydrological sciences shows that the impacts of natural hazards can be reduced through preparedness and migitation, according to the Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), Mr Michel Jarraud, in his message to the international community on the occasion of the World Water Day (WWD), on 22 March 2004.

Over 75 per cent of all natural disasters are related to weather and climate. Floods and droughts are major causes of natural disasters. Over the last 10 years disasters of hydrological, meteorological and climatic origin have been responsible for over 90 per cent of all deaths due to natural disasters. According to the Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters (CRED), over the last 30 years, the number of lives lost to natural disasters has decreased to about 60,000 per year, but the numbers of people affected and estimated economic losses have been steadily increasing. Over the period 1991-2000, the figure averaged about 210 million people per year, seven times more than the people affected by conflict. Moreover, 98% of the people affected are from developing countries. The following figures reported by CRED highlight the magnitude and geographical scale of floods and droughts in recent years.

More than 2000 water-related disasters on all scales occurred during the last decade. Asia and Africa were the most affected continents, with floods accounting for half of these disasters and water-borne and vector-disease outbreaks accounted for a significant fraction of remaining disasters. In terms of lives claimed, floods accounted for 15% of all deaths related to natural disasters. The economic cost of water-related natural disasters, especially of developing countries, is considerable. Asia accounts for one-third of economic losses caused by water-related disasters.

The information required for the planning to mitigate disastrous effects of natural hazards includes forecasting and early warning services with greater accuracy and longer-lead time, as well as the provision of long-term data and information for risk assessment, and for designing and implementing structural, as well as non-structural, mitigation measures. "We have much to draw from WMO's extensive and unique system of in situ and satellite-based observations, its network of forecast and warning centres that use some of the most powerful supercomputers, and its extensive system of telecommunications that enables all National Meteorological Service to exchange data and/or products and ensures the timely preparation and dissemination of short-, medium- and long-term forecasts and warnings", Mr Jarraud stressed. "In addition, systematic studies of meteorological and hydrological phenomena and observations related to cyclones, severe storms, floods, landslides, mudflows and El Niño are essential for a clear understanding of how and why natural hazards happen, and how they can escalate into disasters."

WMO and the United Nations Secretariat for the International Strategy for Disaster reduction (UN/ISDR) are the lead agencies within the United Nations System for the global celebration of World Water Day (WWD) 2004, devoted to the theme of "Water WMO-No.704 and disasters". WWD is celebrated on 22 March each year, following a resolution adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 22 December 1992.

The goal of WWD 2004 is to inspire worldwide political, community and media action for preparedness, preventing and mitigating water-related disasters, from floods to droughts, and to enhance awareness about the importance of being informed and prepared when facing disasters in order to save life and protect property. Such actions are essential for achieving the United Nations Millennium Development Goals related to reducing poverty and building sustainable development.

For information about water-related disasters and WWD2004 events, please check the following website: http://www.waterday2004.org

As every year, World Meteorological Day (WMD) will be celebrated on 23 March to commemorate the entry-into-force on that day in 1950 of the Convention of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). The theme of WMD 2004 is "Weather, climate and water in the information age". For the message of the Secretary-General of WMO, and a booklet (36 pages) about the WWD 2004 theme, please check the website www.wmo.int A film (16'8") can be obtained for media purposes from the WMO Communications and Public Affairs Office.

A joint WWD/WMD 2004 ceremony will take place at WMO Headquarters in Geneva on Monday, 22 March, from 3.00 to 4.30 p.m. and will be followed by a reception. After a welcome by Mr Michel Jarraud, Secretary-General of WMO, the assembly will be addressed by Mr Sergei Ordzhonikidze, Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva. Thereafter, statements will be made by two Guests of Honour: Mr Yoshio Utsumi, Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union, and Dato'Ir. HJ. Keizrul Bin Abdullah, President of the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage and Director-General, Department of Irrigation and Drainage, Malaysia. Journalists are cordially invited to the ceremony and the reception.

The World Meteorological Organization is the United Nations System's authoritative voice on Weather, Climate and Water.

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(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

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