Disaster management officials and experts from across the globe convened in Taipei as Taiwan prepares to launch the World Alliance for Disaster Management (WADM). This international initiative aims to enhance global disaster preparedness and response capabilities through strengthened cooperation.
Taiwan’s Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung and Interior Minister Liu Shyh-fang welcomed delegates, emphasizing the necessity of international collaboration in tackling disasters that transcend borders. Lin underscored that building resilience and improving preparedness require cooperative efforts among nations.
The WADM, an ambitious project, seeks to establish a network connecting governments, emergency response agencies, businesses, academic institutions, and civil society organizations. The goal is to foster collaboration across various facets of disaster management, including prevention, early warning systems, emergency response, and recovery processes.
Drawing on Taiwan’s experience with international aid in the aftermath of the 1999 Jiji earthquake, Interior Minister Liu expressed the country’s readiness to share its disaster response expertise. Taiwan plans to engage in professional training and joint exercises as part of its contribution to the alliance.
The alliance intends to promote the exchange of information, build capacities, and facilitate practical cooperation among its members. Through these efforts, the WADM aims to improve global disaster management strategies, ensuring better preparedness and more effective responses to future challenges.