The 3rd International Early Warning Conference
(EWCIII) will be convened by the Government of Germany under the auspices
of the United Nations from 27 to 29 March in Bonn, Germany. It follows
the World Conference on Disaster Reduction (WCDR) in Kobe, Japan, earlier
this year and will be a contribution to the call by the UN Secretary General
for global warning systems covering all countries and all hazards. It also
builds on the two previous Early Warning Conferences held in Potsdam in
1998 and Bonn in 2003.
"Through the Indian Ocean tsunami
disaster in December 2004, the world was reminded of the crucial importance
of efficient early warning systems. Early warning and preparedness are
the critical elements in preventing natural hazards from turning into disasters",
says Salvano Briceño, Director of the secretariat of the International
Strategy for Disaster Reduction.
Guided by the motto 'From Concept to Action', the EWCIII therefore aims to mobilize efforts to implement the recommendations of the preceding conferences (EWCII, WCDR) spelled out in the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015. "The conference's main outcome will be the launch of a range of short- and long-term early warning projects in high priority countries," adds Salvano Briceño.
It is expected that the conference will bring together over 600 representatives of governments, parliaments and international organizations, as well as practitioners and members of the scientific community.
The Conference Secretariat will be located within the ISDR secretariat and supported by its Bonn-based Platform Promotion of Early Warning (PPEW). Detailed information about the content and aims of the EWCIII can be found on the conference website www.ewc3.org.