Media Release
BOB McMULLAN MP
PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE
FEDERAL MEMBER FOR FRASER
AA 74/09
14 October 2009
International Day for Disaster Reduction
Today is the International Day for Disaster Reduction.
With a number of our Asia and Pacific friends and neighbours currently devastated by natural
disasters, this is a reminder that minimising the threat and consequences of disasters is an
important and urgent concern for our region.
The death and devastation which has torn across Asia and the Pacific in the past three weeks
shows just how prone our region is to natural disasters.
A typhoon left a trail of destruction across the Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos.
In the Pacific, the low-lying islands of Samoa and Tonga were hit first by earthquakes and then a
tsunami that flattened coastal villages.
To our north, the surfing hub of Padang in Indonesia was rocked by two massive earthquakes
causing massive structural and environmental damage, only a few weeks after West Java had also
been hit by a large earthquake.
Australia responded quickly with humanitarian and emergency assistance to affected
communities.
In the Philippines, Vietnam and Laos, Australia provided shelter, basic medical supplies, clean
water and emergency food aid.
In Samoa and Indonesia, Australia provided medical personnel search and rescue teams and
disaster relief supplies.
In Tonga, Australia provided support to help relief and recovery efforts on the worst affected
island of Niuatoputapu.
In the Pacific and Indonesia, the Australian Defence Force played a vital role, providing air
transport to ferry humanitarian as well as medical and engineering personnel.
As these communities move from recovery to reconstruction, Australia’s assistance will help
communities to build back better essential infrastructure including schools, housing, public health
facilities, water, power and roads.
While most of us have not experienced the destruction of natural disasters first hand, we have
watched them unfold on our television screens.
With climate change likely to increase the frequency and scale of weather-related events, we may
well see more devastation and loss of life unless urgent action is taken to prepare those who are
most vulnerable.
The cost of not being prepared can be catastrophic, not just in terms of lives lost, but also to local
businesses and the environment.
People living in poverty in developing countries are more vulnerable to natural disasters as they
are often forced to live and work in poorly constructed buildings, in high-risk coastal areas or on
land prone to regular flooding.
Media Release
There are practical things we can do today to minimise the risks people in our region face from
disasters.
After the devastating Yogyakarta earthquake in 2006 which killed over 5000 people, SurfAid
International, with support from Australia organised training for the provincial Government and
Silabu community leaders on what to do in the event of a disaster.
Together they identified safe evacuation sites, ran simulation drills in schools and encouraged
families to pack emergency bags with essential items. When the earthquake struck, people knew
where to go and how to keep safe. Their emergency preparedness plans worked.
When in 2007, two large earthquakes flattened half of the homes in the village, there was not a
single death because the community was prepared and knew what to do when the ground started
shaking.
Australia is now at the forefront of international efforts to reduce the risk of disasters, working
with developing countries through our aid program to help make the world’s most vulnerable
people safer.
Through our aid program Australia can help developing countries take action such as
strengthening buildings to withstand earthquakes, planting crops that will survive drought,
developing systems that warn people in the path of a cyclone and train people in first aid to help
in the aftermath of a disaster.
Often simple things will make a big difference to communities living in high risk areas like this.
Media Contacts:
Sam Casey (Mr McMullan’s office) 0421 697 660
AusAID Public Affairs 0417 680 590
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