ISLAMABAD, Feb 20, IRNA – The Islamic Republic of Iran on Thursdayofficially handed over the Asia-Pacific Center for Disaster InformationManagement (APDIM) Governing Council to Pakistan.
Hamid Pourmohammadi, Iran’s Deputy Vice President for Planning and BudgetOrganization and former head of APDIM Governing Council handed over thepresidency of the body to Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority(NDMA) Lieutenant General Muhammad Afzal at the beginning of the FourthGoverning Council Meeting of APDIM in Islamabad.
Pourmohammadi expressed his gratitude to the Government of Pakistan forhosting the Fourth Session of the APDIM Governing Council and for providingwarm hospitality to the participants of the session.
The official added that the Islamic Republic of Iran, as a committed memberof the United Nations, is implementing its 6th Five-Year NationalDevelopment Plan.
“The Plan emphasizes the role of the knowledge-based economy, coupled withthe development of advanced technologies in a wide range of subjects. Inconjunction with United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals, the currentFive-Year National Plan is based on notions of equality and inclusion,”said Pourmohammadi.
He noted that according to the official data of the World Bank and theInternational Monetary Fund, the world economy enjoyed a relatively goodlevel of growth in 2019, and the people of the world, to varying extents,enjoyed the fruits of this. advancement.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran, however, has recently witnessed asignificant challenge in achieving its economic growth targets andexperiencing income inequality, thanks to the unilateral economic sanctionsimposed by the US Government, which are not only against the UnitedNations’ objectives. Sustainable Development Goals, but are also incontradiction with numerous UN Charter articles targeting civilian andhumanitarian items such as food and medicine, and undermining human safety,”he added.
The official went on to say that as a major step towards finding answers tothe challenges that undermine security and resilience against all types ofdisasters, the Islamic Republic of Iran, in cooperation with and thanks tothe support of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asiaand the Pacific (ESCAP) member states and associates took the initiativeand supported ESACP in establishing APDIM in the region and is pleased tohost the Center in Tehran, as decided in ESCAP Resolution 71/11 adopted in2015.
He said APDIM held its third session of its Governing Council in Tehran on19 December 2018 which was preceded by a Regional High-Level Expert Meetingon 18 and 19 December 2018.
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“The Council reviewed the Center’s work since its second session andexpressed its appreciation to the Center for initiating all the keyprograms of the approved work plan for 2018 in line with the strategic planand the three thematic pillars including: information and knowledgerepository, capacity development, and regional information services forcross-border disasters, ”said Pourmohammadi.
He added ever since APDIM started its activities, it has initiated,organized, hosted, and sponsored several rounds of workshops, trainingcourses, field visits, needs assessment studies, advisory missions, UNproject implementations, international summits, Expert Group Meetings, andGoverning Council Meetings.
“I am very pleased to note that APDIM has successfully expanded itsactivities in line with the strategic plan adopted by the Council and basedon the priorities and needs of the countries in the region. Today, theexpectations of countries in the region show that APDIM’s mission andservices are relevant and needed more than ever, ”the official said.
“On behalf of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran, I would liketo emphasize my willingness and readiness to promote multilateralcooperation within ESCAP members and associates,” said Iran’s Deputy VicePresident.
He added Iran is committed to continuing its political, legal, financial,technical, and logistical support for APDIM, as it has been pledged inResolution 71/11.
A two-day summit of High-Level Expert Consultation on Disaster InformationManagement and the fourth session of the Asian and Pacific Center forDevelopment of Disaster Information Management (APDIM) began in Islamabadon Wednesday.
The meeting is being held in collaboration with the United Nations Economicand Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and the NationalDisaster Management Authority of Pakistan (NDMA).
