Committee Description:

Established in 1945 by the Charter of the United Nations (UN), the General Assembly (GA) is the most important representative organ from the UN since here the policymaking and deliberative decisions are taken and are based on peace or security admission of new members or the financial statement. Composed by 193 members of the UN, it gives a unique forum a variety of multilateral discussions. It also plays a significant role in the process of the codification of an international law. The Assembly meets in regular sessions from September to December each year.

According to the Charter of the United Nations, the General Assembly may:

• Consider/approve the UN budget and control financial status.

• Elect non-permanent member of the other UN councils.

• Consider/make recommendations on maintaining peace and security.

• Discuss questions about international peace and security.

• Promote international political cooperation.

• Make recommendations for peaceful settlement.

 

Introduction/description:

Natural disasters are considered: earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanoes, avalanches, floods, forest fires, hurricanes, landslides and tornadoes are some of the deadly risks we are exposed on Earth. Being dangerous to humans, these events are also affecting the way and place we live in.

Most of the natural disasters have catastrophic results with negative consequences. Millions of people are affected every year and it has an important impact. It can be from the destruction of buildings to the spread of a disease. Natural disasters can destroy an entire country.

Some of the important aspects to take into account in the consequences of a natural disaster are:

• Displaced populations

• Food scarcity

• Emotional aftershocks

 

 

History Records:

 

Hurricanes in Northamerica

Hurricane season hits hard on the Gulf of Mexico and each year it leaves several areas close to the coast devastated and flooded. Charlie in Florida, Katrina in New Orleans which caused floods tall enough to sink houses, Alex in Monterrey destroyed houses, streets and caused many landslides, Sandy in New York which caused an energy shutdown and killed 186 people, and most recently Ingrid and Manuel in Mexico, are some of the most damaging of the past decade.

 

Fires in Australia

The hot, dry summers that Australia has, cause serious fires among all its territory and causes damages to its ecosystem. As of October 21, 2013, there were more than 60 fires raging, 14 of them, described as ‘out of control’. According to experts, many have been caused by natural factors, but some also were triggered by human acts, in which the simplest thing can burn to ashes many acres, as one that an 11 year old boy caused, which burned several buildings and almost 5,000 acres of land.

 

Point of View:

Nowadays there are many international response teams, such as the Red Cross, the UN blue helmets, and small communities in many cities throughout the world usually gather up supplies to be sent with larger organizations for giving aid. The Red Cross has an international disaster response laws and guidelines in order to help in the best possible way the community in need, and it also helps you locate where you can work or volunteer.

 

Cases to study:

Australia bush fires October 20, 2013

The Premier of New South Wales Barry O’Farrell had declared the country in emergency. The minister Michael Gallacher had said that the emergency declaration follows with the next measures: allow emergency services to evacuate and area. Order power and gas supplies to be shut off and shore up or pull down buildings.

 

Earthquake in Philippines October 17, 2013.

A powerful 7.2 earthquake hit the Philippines; the earthquake had affected 3.2 billion people. An assessment public by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management council cites that the damages had been about 2,000 homes and other buildings.

 

Actual situation:

Nowadays the UN had created the International Day for reduction of natural disasters. That has been taken at 13 October 2013. This event had been coordinated by UNISDR an office specialized in the topic. According to the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) each year countries debate a new issue.

(GAR) Global Assessment Report on Disaster Risk Reduction 2013 is the association that gives to the UNISDR the information to make a correct analysis of the situation.  

 

Conclusion:

A natural disaster can occur at any time, at any moment. Even though it can be predictable, a country should be ready for it. The purpose is to make the delegates to think in the ways, and depending on each of their countries (economic status, location, risks, and biomes) what would they make in order to prevent a catastrophe to happen.

 

 

References:

 

United Nations (N/A) About the General Assembly Retrieved on October 21, 2013 from: http://www.un.org/en/ga/about/index.shtml

 

BBC (N/A) Natural Disasters Retrieved on October 21, 2013 from: http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/earth/natural_disasters

 

Child Fund Int. (2006) The Devastating Impact of Natural Disasters Retrieved on

October 21, 2013 from: http://www.childfund.org/the-devastating-impact-of-natural-disasters/

 

CNN Library (2013) Hurricane Sandy Fast Facts. CNN.com 10/21/2013 from http://www.cnn.com/2013/07/13/world/americas/hurricane-sandy-fast-facts/index.html

 

Siddique, H. (2013) Australian firefighters weather battle. The Guardian World News.  Retrieved  21 october 2013 from:  http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/oct/21/australian-firefighters-fires-weather-battle

 

Amazing Planet Staff (2013) Worst Hurricanes in America. Retrieved  21 october 2013 from: http://www.livescience.com/37265-worst-hurricanes-america-hurricane-katrina.html

 

Red Cross (2013) IDRL Guidelines. Retrieved  21 october 2013 from: http://www.ifrc.org/en/what-we-do/idrl/idrl-guidelines/

 

UNISDR(2013)Global Assessment Report. Retrieved  21 october 2013 from: http://www.unisdr.org/we/campaign/iddr

 

ONU(2013) Tema de 2013: «Vivir los desastres con una discapacidad»

Retrieved  21 october 2013 from: :http://www.un.org/es/events/disasterreductionday/

 

UNISDR(2013)Global Assessment Report

Retrieved  21 october 2013 from: http://www.unisdr.org/we/inform/gar

 

 UNISDR(2013) Bush fire emergency in Australia

Retrieved  21 october 2013 from http://www.unisdr.org/archive/35220