UNIDO SUPPORT TO TSUNAMI-STRICKEN COUNTRIES

 

(Reissued as received.)

VIENNA, 13 January (UNIDO) -- The recent human disaster that hit Asian nations on 26 December has elicited an unprecedented outpouring of humanitarian aid from all corners of the globe.  While governments, aid organizations and the general public have naturally been focusing on meeting immediate needs in order to save lives, organizations not directly involved in relief aid have turned their attention to the medium- and longer-term requirements of the affected areas.  At a meeting of world leaders, held in Jakarta on 6 January, the United Nations was entrusted with coordinating all stages of support.

While the world is reeling from the extensive loss of life and the very real threat of further deaths from disease as a result of unsanitary conditions, the full impact of the disaster on the future of the affected regions is slowly emerging.  The crippling damage to factories and businesses, the almost total destruction of the fisheries industry, the devastating blow dealt to agriculture through salt contamination of the soil and ground waters, and the destruction of roads, bridges and communication networks have meant that millions of people in the region not only lost their homes and worldly goods but also the wherewithal to support their families.  This makes economic revival and the generation of employment among the most pressing priorities, once the need for emergency relief starts to ebb.

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) is one of the United Nations’ most streamlined and technical agencies, dedicated to improving the living conditions of people and promoting global prosperity through sustainable industrial development.  With know-how and expertise across a range of technological and industrial disciplines, UNIDO is in a unique position to play a role in reconstruction and economic recovery efforts.

Director-General Carlos Magariños is focusing on a number of projects that will allow local communities to be largely responsible for their own reconstruction, using locally available resources and manpower.  In most of the affected areas, fishermen have lost their livelihood; the destruction of equipment, a fear of the sea and the difficulty in selling fish from contaminated waters means they have to look elsewhere for employment.  One resource that is sadly all too abundant in the tsunami-stricken countries of South-East Asia is rubble.  UNIDO has considerable experience in post-crisis initiatives and is aware of the imperative of reconstructing homes and other buildings quickly and efficiently, using locally available materials.  The advantages of recycling rubble as a building material are obvious.  Not only are local populations able to take charge of their own reconstruction, using their own resources, but also a social nuisance is converted into a useful material.

One of the region’s most renewable natural resources is bamboo, that can be used to build bridges, transformed into flat sheeting for roofs or, in combination with cement, used as a construction material.  UNIDO has implemented a number of programmes in countries such as China, Cuba and India that could be adapted without delay to suit local conditions.  “We would be working at the community level, using locally available resources, creating productive capacities and enabling the people themselves to be responsible for the reconstruction of their own villages”, said Director-General Magariños.  Some of the affected areas are also in dire need of building materials.  The rehabilitation of existing, or setting up of new, facilities to manufacture bricks, roofing and other construction resources is a priority.

The absence of clean water is both an immediate and long-term need that has to be addressed as a matter of urgency.  UNIDO can help by introducing the technology for small, environment-friendly, decentralized water decontamination units that could be manufactured in the countries themselves to provide household and drinking water to their own communities.  UNIDO has the technology and expertise to help set up water purification units in remote areas that are off the main water grid.

A severe hindrance to relief efforts has been the loss of business and industrial infrastructure in most of the affected areas.  It is imperative to revive and rehabilitate damaged businesses and industries in order to avoid years of poverty and deprivation.  UNIDO will be able to help by introducing the technology for small and medium enterprises (SMEs), reviewing financial viability and investment plans and developing capacities.   Micro- and small enterprises have sustained particular damage and, at a time when traditional livelihoods -- fisheries and agriculture -- will undoubtedly take a long time to recover, UNIDO can help identify and build up other industries in the area.

The current massive flow of food donations will doubtless start to dwindle after a few months.  By that time, it is crucial that food-processing industries be up and running in order to meet local demands.  With extensive experience in promoting agro-industries, UNIDO’s expertise in this area will be put to good use.

UNIDO has a key role to play in the post-crisis economic revival effort that encompasses SME development, employment creation and the overall economic development of the affected regions.  “All UNIDO’s activities will enforce the concept of self-reliance.  Our mission to help developing countries to help themselves protects the dignity of the people and ensures the sustainable development of those nations”, affirms Director-General Magariños.

Note for Editors

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations that focuses its efforts on relieving poverty by fostering productivity growth.  It helps developing countries and countries with economies in transition in their fight against marginalization in today’s globalized world.  It mobilizes knowledge, skills, information and technology to promote productive employment, a competitive economy and a sound environment.  For more information, please visit www.unido.org.

Contact, for further information:  Syed Hasnain, UNIDO post-crisis programme, tel.:  +43 1 26026 3390, e-mail:  S.Hasnain@unido.org.  For more information on UNIDO, please contact:  Cristina Stricker, UNIDO Information Officer, tel.:  +43 1 26026 3034, e-mail:  c.stricker@unido.org.

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