COVID dominates the global platform indaba

COVID-19 has harmed the global community, according to the UNDRR in Bali. W.K. Mutale-Nalumango attended the United Nations Conference on May 23-28, 2022. Flooding and drought have hit Zambia, Mozambique, and South Africa. This year, Indonesia has experienced about 1,000 earthquakes, the highest in Asia. Many disasters could have been avoided because to the country's sophisticated technologies.

The world has been stunned by the coronavirus pandemic. Millions have died, and the disease has stifled economic opportunities. Orphans and underprivileged children lost breadwinners in their millions. The WHO recorded 6,309,497 COVID-19 fatalities as of May 30, 2022. The disease's toll in Zambia may be higher than recorded due to a lack of information from the rural. In Zambia, daily COVID-19 infections have dropped to 1,300, with 63 cases reported. There are no everyday deaths.

After COVID-19, most countries are returning to normal, but hospitals are still full of pandemic victims, and thousands of people are serious. No future tragedy, the world believes, will be as devastating as COVID-19. This has spurred think tanks all around the world to look at disaster risk prevention in order to avoid another disaster that results in mass deaths and country-wide lockdowns. The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction was debated by world leaders in Indonesia.

The Sendai Framework was the first major post-2015 UN development agreement to provide member states with tangible actions to defend development from disaster risks. The Sendai Framework complements the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, the Addis Ababa Action Agenda on Development Financing, and the New Urban Agenda. Following the Third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in 2015, the UN General Assembly endorsed this. Delegates in Sendai advocated for reducing disaster risks, deaths, and livelihood losses. Despite the fact that the agreements recognise the government's role in disaster risk reduction, local governments and private sector actors should share responsibility.

All UN members were asked to increase disaster resilience at the recently concluded UNDRR in Bali. This is the most important multi-stakeholder meeting for the Sendai Framework's progress (2015-2030). This was the first Global Platform held in Asia since COVID-19. During COVID-19, the event allowed governments to assess progress and accelerate implementation of the Sendai Framework. Indonesia was chosen due of its disaster management capabilities. The "ring of fire" in the Pacific Ocean runs across Indonesia. At GP 2022, Indonesian President Joko Widodo emphasised the importance of managing disaster risk and long-term growth. President Widodo remarked, "Today, Indonesia presents the world the concept of sustained resilience."

Amina Mohammed, the UN's Deputy Secretary-General, stated that humanity is "self-destructing." "We have three days to evaluate the best policy measures to go from risk to resilience," Amina Mohammed stated at the commencement of a recent high-level conference. There were 7,000 delegates and observers from 185 countries in attendance. Vice President Nalumango's participation thrilled Jannet Elseworth, UNDRR's chief of communications. Ms. Elsworth believes that this demonstrates Zambia's commitment to the Bali summit. Mrs. Nalumango's keynote address at the high-level discussion session on accelerating disaster risk finance shed light on critical global concerns. CRR, according to Mrs. Nalumango, is underfunded. She told the delegates that disaster preparedness can reduce the socioeconomic effect of calamities.

The Vice President emphasised the importance of conducting precise hazard and risk assessments, predicting potential consequences, and stepping up prevention and mitigation efforts. Zambia has increased funding for disaster-related programmes from the national budget due to the uncertainties. Disasters result in the death of people, the displacement of people, and the destruction of property and infrastructure. Mrs. Nalumango spoke with key participants in the Zambian economy to help direct investments. One of the meetings was with Indonesian President Joko Widodo to discuss mining and energy development.

President Hakainde Hichilema is hurrying to boost the economy, she informed President Widodo. President of Indonesia, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, wants to increase commerce with Zambia. Mizotori was met by the Vice President. Ms. Mizotori has been reminded that Africa and Zambia are not disaster-proof and require international assistance. "Zambia experiences natural calamities such as floods and human-to-human conflicts, but the country works hard to minimise the impacts." Vice President: High fertiliser prices, according to Mrs. Nalumango, are causing food insecurity in Zambia.

She praised the UN for its efforts to tackle COVID-19 in Zambia and elsewhere. Ms. Mizotori reassured the Vice President that the UNDRR will assist UN countries, including Zambia, in reducing the impact of catastrophes. Dewa Sastrawan, the Indonesian ambassador, was also present during the Vice President's meeting. She informed him that the government's diplomacy is transitioning from political to economic. Zambia employs economic diplomacy to aid its citizens. They want to work with Indonesia in the mining, agricultural, and infrastructure industries. She asked the Indonesian envoy to follow through on his pledges.

She urged Indonesians to try Zambian foods such as cassava. Sastrawan has requested the establishment of a Zambian embassy in Indonesia. He claimed that Zambia has a large number of Indonesian miners. He stated, "Zambia's raw commodities may stimulate economic engagement." Abdullah Shaihid and Amina Mohammed met with Vice President Nalumango. UNDRR stands for United Nations Disaster Risk Reduction.

The Sendai Framework is overseen by it, and global platforms are organized by it. The recently concluded forum discussed how to use the global crisis to fulfil the goals of the Sendai Framework and the 2030 Agenda.