Luxembourg and UNISDR sign cooperation agreement

GENEVA, 22 May 2012 – The UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Disaster Reduction, Margareta Wahlström, and Luxembourg’s Minister for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs, Marie-Josée Jacobs, today signed a four-year Cooperation Agreement.

Ms. Wahlström said: “Luxembourg has been a valued supporter of disaster risk reduction for many years. This new Cooperation Agreement with the Government of Luxembourg is a welcome boost to our joint efforts and will provide annual unearmarked funding to UNISDR for four years up to 2015.

“This is a significant vote of confidence from a key EU member state as consultations get underway to develop a new framework for disaster risk reduction to replace the existing international blueprint, the Hyogo Framework for Action, which expires in 2015. Luxembourg is not only a valued donor but is also a strong advocate for disaster risk reduction through its own strategy for the environment and climate change.”

Minister Marie-Josée Jacobs said: “Luxembourg is signing this agreement with UNISDR as we believe that disaster risk reduction is an essential element of sustainable development. On average, over 200 million people are affected by disasters each year and economic losses are growing exponentially. This Cooperation Agreement is an investment in building a safer world.”

About UNISDR: UNISDR is the UN office dedicated to disaster risk reduction. It is led by the Special Representative of the Secretary General for Disaster Risk Reduction and supports implementation of the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015: Building the Resilience of Nations and Communities to Disasters which seeks “the substantial reduction of disaster losses, in lives and in the social, economic and environmental assets of communities and countries.”