Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina stressed the need for creating stronger and inclusive international cooperation to mitigate water-related disasters for a resilient and sustainable post pandemic world.
“Growing scarcity of clean drinking water, outbreak of diseases like cholera, typhoid etc. reminds us of crucial need of water for peace and development. To mitigate the water-related disasters, we have a shared responsibility to create stronger and inclusive international cooperation,” she said.
In a recorded speech aired in the 5th United Nations Special Thematic Session on Water and Disasters held virtually on Fridaty, the Prime Minister reminded the international community that the world is confronting “the gravest global health crisis of our times” due to the corona pandemic that caused enormous economic and social disruption and thus slowed down the progress for sustainable development.
The High-level Experts and Leaders Panel on Water and Disasters (HELP), which was established to assist the international community, governments and stakeholders in mobilizing political will and resources to solve the water-related disasters, organized the session.
This year’s session was held under the title of “Building Back Better towards More Resilient and Sustainable Post-COVID-19 World” with Hungary, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, Republic of Korea, Tajikistan, High-Level Experts and Leaders Panel on Water and Disasters (HELP) and National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS) of Japan as co-hosts.
In her address, the Prime Minister also put forth five points for consideration by the international community to address the water-related disasters.
She, in her first and second proposals, said the world needs to take comprehensive, result-oriented, focused and adaptive global approach for water security and importantly to raise political awareness alongside sharing good practices, knowledge, and experiences.
The premier also said there should be synergies on water management, and water policies and use among the nations of upper and lower basins and the world should focus on implementation of the Sendai Framework, the SDGs, and the Paris Agreement while placing her third and fourth proposals.
