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Asia is the largest as also the most populous continents of the world. Almost 4 out of the 6.5 billion people of the world live in 66 countries of the Asia and the Pacific, which have six distinct geo-physical-climatic and political regions - the East Asia, the South East Asia, the South Asia, the Central Asia, the West Asia and the Pacific Islands. Although diverse in their culture, resources and governance, all the regions are bound by rich civilizational bonds and a common urge for growth and development, which make them distinct from the rest of the world.
Threats from almost every possible natural hazards - earthquake, landslides, volcanoes, mudslide, flood, flash flood, drought, GLOF, forest fire, cyclone, hurricane, tornado, coastal erosion, sea level rise, heat and cold waves and tsunami - affect one or more countries of the regions. Some of the worst disasters of the world have taken place in Asia taking heaviest tolls of human life and property. The devastating earthquakes of China and Pakistan, the cyclone of Bangladesh and the Indian Ocean Tsunami are few of the examples of recent mega disasters in Asia.
Many Asian countries have taken exemplary initiatives for prevention, mitigation and preparedness for disasters with remarkable degrees of success. Much more works remain to be done.
Asia has always taken the lead in setting up the global agenda for disaster risk reduction. It was in the Asian city of Yokohama that a Strategy for a Safer World : Guidelines for Natural Disaster Prevention, Preparedness and Mitigation and its Plan of Action was adopted in 1994.
It was again in the Asian city of Kobe that Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015 : Building the Resilience of Nations and Communities to Disasters was adopted by 168 nations of the world.
China took the lead in hosting the First Asian Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction which unanimously adopted the Beijing Action for Disaster Reduction in Asia. The Second Asian Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction is being hosted by India in New Delhi on 7-8 November, 2007.
This Conference would be attended by more than 500 delegates from all over the Asia and the world. Ministers, high level delegations, scientists, practitioners, civil society members and representatives from the United Nations, international and regional organizations will meet in the same platform for two days of intensive discussion on various issues and aspects of disaster risk reduction.
The Conference would consider the Draft Delhi Declaration 2007 for adoption.
Background Note of the Conference 
Conference Brochure
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