TEHRAN, March 5, 2003 (United Nations Development Programme) - A three-day technical workshop wrapped up its work in Tehran Wednesday, attempting to identify the needs and priorities in the area of disaster risk management.

The forum brought together representatives from Southwestern and Central Asian countries including Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkey, and Turkmenistan. The participants also included high-level representatives from governments, UNDP Iran, Red Cross/ Crescent societies, academia and NGOs of 10 countries, who presented and discussed disaster risk issues most relevant to their respective countries, providing a comprehensive outlook on their various capacities and hurdles facing them.

The workshop was organized by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in collaboration with the Disaster Task Force of the Ministry of Interior of I.R. Iran.

The countries of Southwestern and Central Asia are increasingly prone to natural disasters, including hydro-meteorological hazards such as floods and droughts, which erode and in some cases outweigh development gains.

In view of this, UNDP is supporting a one-year Preparatory Assistance Project to establish a Sub-regional Initiative in Disaster Risk Management.

"The initiative can help develop a wider multidisciplinary understanding of disaster management practices within a range of political, professional and institutional contexts and help develop synergies between disaster risk management and socio-economic development sectors" said Siba Das, UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in a keynote speech at the forum.

This rigorous consultative process led to the identification of a range of needs and priorities in the area of disaster risk management. The agenda will, of course, require concerted action at the local, national and regional level by governments, UN agencies, civil society and academic institutions.

A consensus emerged that the initial activity of a sub-regional activity should be Knowledge Networking.

UNDP is the UN's global development network, advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. We are on the ground in 166 countries, working with them on their own solutions to global and national development challenges. As they develop local capacity, they draw on the people of UNDP and our wide range of partners.