APDIM’s Sixth Governing Council Convened on 8 February 2022

The Sixth Session of the Governing Council of the Asian and Pacific Centre for the Development of Disaster Information Management (APDIM) was convened online on 8 February 2022. H.E. Seyed Hamid Pourmohammadi, Deputy Head of Plan and Budget Organization of the Islamic Republic of Iran and Ms. Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, delivered opening remarks.

APDIM Governing Council elected Cambodia as the Chair and the Republic of Turkey as Vice-Chair for its new term until the next Session of the Council.

H.E Mr. KU Bunnavuth of Cambodia, Deputy Secretary-General, National Committee for ESCAP, and Deputy Director of Cooperation and ASEAN Department, National Committee for Disaster Management Chaired the Sixth Session of APDIM Governing Council.

Ms. Letizia Rossano, Director of APDIM, presented the report on activities of the centre since the fifth session of the Governing Council; revised programme of work and financial and administrative status. The draft regional plan of action on sand and dust storms based on the outcomes of the consultation held in December 2021 was also shared with the Council along with the Elements for a Regional Plan of Action on Sand and Dust Storms in Asia and the Pacific Region. The Session acknowledged the reports and endorsed the draft regional plan of action on sand and dust storms and recommended further consultations with ESCAP member States with a view to submitting the draft regional plan of action to the Commission at its seventy-eighth session, in May 2022, for its consideration and endorsement.

Delegates from Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Islamic Republic of Iran, Mongolia, Pakistan and Republic of Turkey attended the Sixth Session of the Governing Council as Members. Delegates from Nepal, Republic of Uzbekistan, Sri Lanka and Tuvalu attended the Session as Observers.