Chairman's Address

Dr. Yoshiaki Kawata, Chairman, Disaster Reduction Alliance Executive Director, Disaster Reduction and Human Renovation Institution/Professor and Director, Research Center for Disaster Reduction Systems (DRS) Disaster Prevention Research Institute (DPRI) Kyoto University

Large-scale disasters, both natural and man-made, occur frequently around the world with growing extent of diversity and complexity. To tackle such disasters, a wide variety of knowledge, wisdom and resources need to be mobilized and effectively integrated.

With a view to this, those institutions and centers located in the Kobe New Eastern City Center (HAT-Kobe), decided to make a loose alliance (Disaster Reduction Alliance/DRA), so as to exert synergy effect in promoting international cooperation towards disaster reduction.

The member of DRA look forward to undertaking various coorperative activities such as human resource development, research & study, disaster response, and various events, and thus, the alliance is expected to play an important role as the information and knowledge hub, which contributes to disaster reduction worldwide.