The World Conference on Disaster Reduction, held last week in Kobe under the auspices of the United Nations, has produced concrete results, notably the Hyogo Framework for Action, a 10-year global action plan for reducing disaster risks, and an agreement to build a tsunami early-warning system in the Indian Ocean.
As expected, the conference, held in the aftermath of the devastating Dec. 26 tsunami in the Indian Ocean (the death toll has climbed past 230,000), focused attention on measures related to earthquakes and tsunamis. The fact remains, though, that other natural disasters, such as floods and hurricanes, occur far more frequently -- mostly in developing countries -- and cause far more damage.
The tsunami has produced an unprecedented outpouring of sympathy and support from around the world. Governments and international agencies have moved quickly to help stricken countries and regions. Private citizens and organizations have chipped in generously. Images of the devastation have been beamed across the globe, bringing home the central message: Coordinated international action is needed to better prepare for natural disasters.