Background
The Sector’s Leading Disaster, Resilience, Response and Development Event in Asia...
More than 2 million people - an average of 43,000 per year - have been killed by natural disasters in the Asia-Pacific region since 1970, according to the latest United Nations' figures. The region accounts for 57 percent of the global death toll from natural disasters since 1970. The principal causes were earthquakes and storms, followed by floods. In 2016, disasters caused about 5,000 deaths and economic losses worth $77 billion in the region, home to 60 percent of the world's population and its most disaster-prone area.
Natural disasters displaced 60.4 million people globally between 2013 and 2015 - more than half were in Asia-Pacific, including in the Philippines (15 million people), China (13.1 million) and India (9.2 million). Developing countries in Asia and the Pacific need to invest $26 trillion in infrastructure from 2016 to 2030, or $1.7 trillion per year, if the region is to maintain its growth momentum, eradicate poverty, and respond to climate change, according to the Asian Development Bank
To assist South Asia with post disaster response due to the recent flooding and population displacements in the region, the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) of the People’s Republic of China has partnered with the United Nations Development programme (UNDP), to provide US $12 million to support early recovery efforts in Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Nepal.
In addition, according to UNDP, the total amount of aid being spent in South East Asia has increased by 23% since 2015, with US$11.1 billion spent in 2017 from US$9.03 billion in 2015.
Furthermore, every country in the region experienced an increase in aid between 2016 and 2017. Across South East Asia aid spending levels are highest in Vietnam and Myanmar, with Myanmar experiencing the most rapid increase in aid flows.
It is in this critical climate that the AIDF Asia Summit is taking place, discussing the pressing disaster, resilience and response strategies and implementations needed to reduce risk in the region.
The Summit will take place at the United Nations Conference in Bangkok, Thailand, a selection based on the city being the hub for all international key agencies and the infrastructure in place for our partners to attend the event.
AIDF is strongly committed to the Asia region, having hosted events in the region over the past 4 years. AIDF is the leading independent platform serving the humanitarian thought leaders, regional governments, NGOs, Civil Societies, aid agencies, UN and donor organisations, and the private sector.
The aim of AIDF is to offer a variety of channels to support the sector in establishing collaborations, gain expertise and exchange experiences through our summits, webinars and digital content.