BRICS members to set up joint task force on disaster

management: Rijiju Udaipur, Aug 21 (PTI) BRICS nations would soon set up ajoint task force on disaster management to share information,technique and for mutual support on natural disaster inaccordance with the Ufa declaration, Union Minister of Statefor Home Kiren Rijiju today said. The minister said that the BRICS members — Brazil,Russia, India, China and South Africa — are looking forsetting up the force soon for regular dialogue, collaborationand mutual support among them. Interacting with reporters here ahead of a two-daymeeting of BRICS ministers of disaster management to be openedtomorrow, he said that the government of India has madesignificant efforts to improve disaster management in thecountry which have delivered positive results. The minister said that in the two-day meeting,Ministers of Disaster Management from BRICS countries willshare experiences on flood risk management among others. He said that the country has efficient disaster responseforce while China has experience in handling with earthquakesituations while Russia has technologies to manage wild fireincidents. The ministers of BRICS nation will focus on themes of’Flood Risk Management’ and ‘Forecasting of Extreme WeatherEvents in the context of Changing Climate’ during the meeting. This is the second meeting and in the follow-up of thefirst meeting of the BRICS Ministers for Disaster Managementconvened by the Russian Federation in St.Petersburg. "Recognising the common challenge posed by natural andman-made disasters, the BRICS countries have identifiedDisaster Management as an important area of collaboration. "The Ufa Declaration signed by BRICS Nations in July lastyear identified the need to promote cooperation in preventingand developing responses to emergency situations," accordingto a release. PTI CORR SDASMN