UPU News : Disasters: Posts can help build community resilience

16.03.2015 - The UPU is participating in the World Conference on Disaster Risk Management, currently taking place in Japan, to stress the postal sector’s capacity in reinforcing communities’ resilience to natural disasters.

The UPU's Pascal Clivaz talks sustainable development with Minister Sanae Takaichi

UPU Deputy Director General Pascal Clivaz attended a high-level meeting chaired by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on opening day, Saturday 14 March. Different UN organizations reflected on the main challenges in achieving the goals and priorities that will be adopted in Sendai. 

On site, Clivaz stressed the importance of including the postal network in national policies linked to disaster risk reduction. “This is why the UPU is working on developing a policy and guidelines to help its member countries reinforce their national postal service’s resilience to natural catastrophes, so that they in turn can contribute to developing the resilience of the communities they serve.” 

Several recent natural disasters – in Japan, the Philippines, Chile and Italy – revealed how Posts can contribute to emergency measures. Often, post offices and mail processing plants serve as distribution points for humanitarian aid, Posts provide money-transfer services in affected areas and keep basic lines of communication open when Internet and mobile networks are down.

Japan’s contribution

On the sidelines of the world conference, Clivaz met with Sanae Takaichi, Japan’s minister of internal affairs and communications, and the vice-minister, Yasuo Sakamoto. 

Having experienced one of the worst catastrophes in the country’s history in 2011, Japan has since been supporting the UPU’s sustainable development and disaster risk reduction activities. “Japan Post was one of the first organizations in affected areas to provide help and support to the population and victims. We want to share our experience with the international community and the global postal family,” said the minister. 

Clivaz thanked her for her country’s support and hailed Japan’s contribution to the organization’s work. Among other responsibilities, Japan chairs the Postal Operations Council, one of the UPU’s main bodies. 

“Japan’s commitment is exemplary and shows great trust in our organization’s capacity to bring concrete solutions to the issues facing the postal sector in order to make it a tool for sustainable development and inclusiveness for our member countries,” said Clivaz.