Manila, Philippines – 14-18 October 2024 – The Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (APMCDRR) convened regional leaders, disaster management experts, and civil society representatives in Manila to address escalating disaster risks across Asia-Pacific. Hosted by the Government of the Philippines in partnership with the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), APMCDRR 2024 stands as the region’s foremost platform for evaluating and advancing the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030.
With the conference theme, “Working to 2030: Raising Ambition in Asia-Pacific to Accelerate Disaster Risk Reduction,” the focus was set on intensifying efforts to combat rising disaster risks. Timor-Leste’s Red Cross (CVTL) representatives, including CVTL Secretary-General Mr. Luis Pedro Pinto and Disaster Management Coordinator Mrs. Emidia Belo, joined discussions with other attendees to strategize actionable commitments in disaster risk reduction, marking a significant milestone in regional disaster resilience efforts.
As a distinguished panelist, Mrs. Emidia Belo emphasized CVTL’s commitment to empowering communities, fostering resilience, and ensuring inclusive approaches in disaster response planning. Her role underscored CVTL’s dedication to integrating gender-responsive frameworks and inclusive governance into disaster preparedness and recovery strategies, ensuring that all community segments, including marginalized groups, are protected against disaster risks.
The conference, which featured over 91 delegates from national Red Cross and Red Crescent societies, facilitated knowledge-sharing on pivotal topics under the three pillars of financing disaster risk reduction, promoting inclusive disaster governance, and enhancing urban and rural resilience. A key takeaway from Mrs. Belo’s panel was her call for sustained regional collaboration and for aligning local efforts with the midterm goals of the Sendai Framework.
The participation of Timor-Leste’s delegation, comprising 33 individuals from the CVTL, NGOs, INGOs and government bodies such as the Civil Protection Authority and the Secretary of State for Civil Protection, marked the nation’s commitment to strengthening disaster resilience. This broad representation highlighted Timor-Leste’s efforts to harness cross-sector expertise to bolster national disaster response capabilities.
International partners, notably the Australian Red Cross and American Red Cross, provided funding to facilitate CVTL’s participation in the conference. Their support illustrates the growing recognition of regional collaboration as a vital element in scaling effective disaster preparedness and response solutions across Asia-Pacific.
APMCDRR 2024’s three pillars and cross-cutting themes underscored the need for practical solutions that encompass not only science and technology but also robust coordination among diverse stakeholders. This approach fosters coherent, localized strategies that are essential to building resilience in the Asia-Pacific region, which faces some of the world’s most pressing disaster risks due to climate change, rapid urbanization, and geographic vulnerability.
Mrs. Belo’s presence also served as a tribute to CVTL’s dedication to women’s leadership in disaster management. CVTL’s commitment to professional and proactive female leaders is evident through Mrs. Belo’s work, which includes successful disaster preparedness programs and collaborations with government and NGOs to build resilient, prepared communities across Timor-Leste.
The discussions and commitments made at APMCDRR 2024 reinforce Asia-Pacific’s united stance on mitigating the impact of disasters and enhancing regional resilience by 2030. Through events like APMCDRR, CVTL and other participating organizations aim to ensure that no community is left behind in the mission to protect lives, livelihoods, and ecosystems across the region.
