BRICS nations have resolved to set up a dedicated Joint Task Force for disaster risk management in order to broaden regular dialogue, exchange mutual support and collaborate among themselves. This was decided after a two-day meeting of BRICS ministers on disaster management in the Indian western state of Rajasthan.
Indian Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju termed the meeting as a "new milestone in collaboration and cooperation among BRICS countries in the field of disaster management."
A roadmap for implementation of the three-year Joint Action Plan (JAP) for BRICS emergency services (2016-18) was also finalized. The JAP was agreed upon at the first meeting of BRICS ministers concerning disaster management in St. Petersburg, Russia earlier this year.
"This meeting has agreed on a road map for implementation of the Joint Action Plan where all of us have resolved to work together on exchange of information and experiences on disaster management, research & technology exchange on forecasting and early warning for floods and extreme weather events and capacity building of stakeholders for disaster management," Rijiju said.
Last year, the worst stretch natural disasters affected India costing them more than 3 billion dollars.
BRICS is an association of five developing economies — Russia, China, Brazil, India and South Africa and comprises over one third of the world's population. India, the current BRICS chair, will host the 8th BRICS Summit in Goa in October 2016.
First published by Sputnik.