Helsinki, January 24 – The United Nations Special Representative for Disaster Risk Reduction Margareta Wahlström is expected to discuss disaster preparedness in Finland as she is scheduled arrive in
Helsinki Thursday.
During her two-day stay, Wahlström will meet senior officials and civil society members in Finland and address a seminar titled "Preparation is for everyone" in Helsinki on Friday. The ministry of
interior will organise the seminar, an official release said.
The seminar topics include arrangements ensuring the security of supply in Finland, preparedness efforts of civil society and companies, warning systems of the Finnish Meteorological Institute,
the storms Hannu and Tapani from the perspective of rescue services as well as the draft Bill to improve the security of the electricity supply.
Disasters increases poverty and slow down the development process as Finnish experiences say natural calamities have quadrupled in the last 20 years The government is committed to strengthening preparedness substantially as an element of development cooperation, said a foreign ministry release adding that Finland has also adopted Hyogo Framework for Action, which is a UN-led strategy for natural disaster reduction and damage limitation, to lessen the destructions cause by natural
disasters.
Margareta Wahlström has over 30 years of experience in disaster management and conflict resolution. She has been serving as Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction
since 2008. Before that, she was Assistant-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs responsible for emergency relief coordination.
