NCDM first vice-president Kun Kim meets with Joseph Scheuer, UN resident coordinator in Cambodia, on January 15. NCDM
A senior member of the National Committee for Disaster Management (NCDM) has announced the strengthening of the committee’s ties with the UN, as well as its continued commitment to the Kingdom’s development and the welfare of its people.
Senior Minister Kun Kim, first vice-president of the NCDM, met with Joseph Scheuer, UN resident coordinator to Cambodia, on January 15 at the NCDM headquarters in Phnom Penh, according to an NCDM press release.
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“These talks were held to strengthen existing partnerships between the government and the UN in the key areas of development and disaster management in Cambodia,” said Kim.
“We are fully committed to development and to the welfare of the people. We are actively working to integrate disaster reduction plans, in line with the national strategic development plan,” he added.
He explained that the NCDM has formulated the National Action Plan on Disaster Risk Reduction (NAP-DRR) 2024-2028, in recognition of the importance of protecting people and infrastructure from natural disasters.
Kim emphasised the importance of early warning systems, saying that the systems are indispensable.
He also noted that it is essential that the NCDM strengthen its partnerships with relevant bodies, in order to increase the effectiveness of disaster management.
“Early warning systems are the most important part of protecting people’s lives from natural disasters. These systems also play a part in the reduction of poverty,” he said.
“The UN and our other development partners have played a vital role in promoting sustainable and resilient development in Cambodia, and we admire them for their efforts,” he added.
Scheuer expressed his admiration for the Cambodian government’s efforts to support development, noting that during his tenure in Cambodia, he would continue to make efforts to strengthen and expand cooperation with the government in priority sectors.
He added that early warning systems have been in use since November of 2022. In 2023, the UN worked with civil society organisations, government institutions and IT companies on early warning systems in 30 countries, including Cambodia.
Early warning systems help Cambodia manage and communicate risks, as well as supporting disaster response preparations.
