DUSHANBE, March 13, Asia-Plus — Mr. Mohammad Aslam Chaudhry, the head of the Water, Natural Resources and SIDS Branch within the UN Division for Sustainable Development of the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, has arrived in Dushanbe to discuss issues related to preparation of an international conference to discuss water-related disaster risk reduction, which is scheduled to be held in the Tajik capital on June 27-28.
Speaking to reporters in Dushanbe on March 12, Mr. Chaudhry noted that the conference would be one of the most important events of International Decade for Action “Water for Life 2005-2015.”
According to him, they have three goals: to make international community aware of global water problems; to share experience in preventing water-related disasters; and to unite efforts of all the countries in that direction.
UN official noted that the climate change problem was also of significant importance.
Mr. Chaudhry noted that three working groups had been set up for preparing the conference, which is expected to bring together 30 experts and delegations from some 100 countries
The estimated budget for holding the conference is some $350,000. According to Mr. Chaudhry, of this amount, $50,000 have to date been allocated. “e hope other organizations will also provide financial support,” he said.
