The UPU is participating in the World
Conference on Disaster Risk Management, currently taking place in Japan, to
stress the postal sector’s capacity in reinforcing communities’ resilience to
natural disasters.
UPU Deputy Director General Pascal Clivaz
attended a high-level meeting chaired by United Nations Secretary-General Ban
Ki-moon on opening day, Saturday 14 March. Different UN organizations reflected
on the main challenges in achieving the goals and priorities that will be
adopted in Sendai.
On site, Clivaz stressed the importance of
including the postal network in national policies linked to disaster risk
reduction. “This is why the UPU is working on developing a policy and
guidelines to help its member countries reinforce their national postal
service’s resilience to natural catastrophes, so that they in turn can
contribute to developing the resilience of the communities they serve.”
Several recent natural disasters – in Japan,
the Philippines, Chile and Italy – revealed how Posts can contribute to
emergency measures. Often, post offices and mail processing plants serve as
distribution points for humanitarian aid, Posts provide money-transfer services
in affected areas and keep basic lines of communication open when Internet and
mobile networks are down.
Japan’s contribution
On the sidelines of the world conference,
Clivaz met with Sanae Takaichi, Japan’s minister of internal affairs and
communications, and the vice-minister, Yasuo Sakamoto.
Having experienced one of the worst
catastrophes in the country’s history in 2011, Japan has since been supporting
the UPU’s sustainable development and disaster risk reduction activities.
“Japan Post was one of the first organizations in affected areas to provide
help and support to the population and victims. We want to share our experience
with the international community and the global postal family,” said the
minister.
Clivaz thanked her for her country’s support
and hailed Japan’s contribution to the organization’s work. Among other
responsibilities, Japan chairs the Postal Operations Council, one of the UPU’s
main bodies.
“Japan’s commitment is exemplary and shows
great trust in our organization’s capacity to bring concrete solutions to the
issues facing the postal sector in order to make it a tool for sustainable
development and inclusiveness for our member countries,” said Clivaz.
