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Disasters, whether natural or caused by human action, have a serious impact on human beings and on the environment. Crisis arrangements and the response time of emergency organisations as well as the co-ordinated cooperation of humanitarian organisations are crucial in environmental disasters. The better they are, the better the chances of saving lives, improving development and protecting the environment in the long term.
About 60 representatives of humanitarian institutions together with environmental experts and crisis managers from international and non-governmental institutions will take part in the Wilton Park conference on environmental disasters. The conference will be organised by the Swiss Agency for Development and Coordination (SDC), the relevant UN organisations and the renowned Wilton Park Institute which specialises in international dialogue. The conference was initiated by ambassador Toni Frisch, who as the government delegate for humanitarian aid and president of the Advisory Group on Environmental Emergencies has politically anchored the issue of disaster Response in UN bodies and humanitarian organisations.
The Wilton Park conference is also preparation for the UN conference on Sustainable Development Rio + 20 in June 2012 in Brazil. UN Under Secretary General Sha Zukang has been appointed Secretary General of this conference. Rio + 20 will therefore be on the agenda of the meeting between President of the Confederation Mrs Calmy-Rey und UN Under Secretary General Sha Zukang in Geneva.
Further information:
Humanitarian Aid of the Swiss Confederation
Address for enquiries:
Information FDFA
Bundeshaus West
CH-3003 Bern
Tel.: (+41) 031 322 31 53
Fax: (+41) 031 324 90 47
E-Mail: info@eda.admin.ch