16 Nov 2012

UN / WAHLSTRÖM

In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, SRSG for Disaster Risk Reduction Margareta Wahlström told a press conference today that, "we should expect more unusual events, events where they didn't use to happen". UNTV

Posted at: November 16, 2012 5:15 pm

Duration: 01:26

Available in: SD

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Full script

STORY: UN / WAHLSTRÖM
TRT: 1.26
SOURCE: UNTV 
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH/ NATS

DATELINE: 16 NOVEMBER 2012, NEW YORK CITY / FILE

SHOTLIST:

FILE – RECENT, NEW YORK CITY

1. Wide shot, exterior United Nations headquarters

16 NOVEMBER 2012, NEW YORK CITY

2. Wide shot, dais
3. Med shot, journalist
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Margareta Wahlström, Head of the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR):
"We will se more of these events. They may seem like freak events, but that's one of the characteristics of climate change impact for the future, and I was told this years ago, expect more of the same, expect more unusual events, events where they didn't use to happen. These are very wide parameters, but it also says something about how we have to prepare for the future." 
5. Med shot, journalist
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Margareta Wahlström, Head of the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR):
"Disasters is a development issue. It can only be dealt with if it's part of countries overall strategic planning, development planning, and if the financial and policy development instruments that will guide how societies are working, are fully recognizing and integrating disaster risk." 
7.	Close up, photographer
8.	SOUNDBITE (English) Margareta Wahlström, Head of the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR):
"When your mobile antenna goes down, when your power goes down, you are more helpless than you were a hundred years ago, because you actually don't know how to operate in that environment, and this is the challenge for our mega cities around the world that makes them a bit more vulnerable than rural communities." 
9.	Close up, photographer
10.	Wide shot, dais

STORYLINE:

In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy's devastating effects in New York City and neighbouring areas, the Head of the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR), Margareta Wahlström, told a press conference today (16 November) that, "we should expect more unusual events, events where they didn't use to happen."

Wahlström said that these "may seem like freak events, but that's one of the characteristics of climate change impact for the future."

The UN official stressed the importance of preparedness and contingency measures. She said disasters preparedness is "a development issue," one that "can only be dealt with if it's part of countries overall strategic planning, development planning, and if the financial and policy development instruments that will guide how societies are working, are fully recognizing and integrating disaster risk."

Wahlström argued that city dwellers are in many ways ill prepared to deal with these challenges. She said "when your mobile antenna goes down, when your power goes down, you are more helpless than you were a hundred years ago, because you actually don't know how to operate in that environment, and this is the challenge for our mega cities around the world that makes them a bit more vulnerable than rural communities."

Beginning in late October in the Atlantic Ocean, Hurricane Sandy grew into what some media reports described as a "once in a generation" storm, causing death and destruction across the Caribbean region and the eastern seaboard of the United States.

In the Caribbean, five million people were affected and 72 people died. In Haiti, 54 people died, and hundreds of thousands of people were hit by floods and heavy winds. In Cuba, 20 per cent of the country's population was affected. Jamaica, the Dominican Republic and the Bahamas also suffered significantly.

Along the US eastern coastline and the New York metropolitan area, more than 100 people lost their lives and many families were left without power.