Brussels, 18/06/2009 (Agence Europe) - Development Workshop France (DWF) and Focus Humanitarian Assistance (FHA), two of ECHO's partner humanitarian organisations (ECHO is the European Commission's humanitarian aid department) have been granted the United Nations Sasakawa Award for Disaster Reduction. DWF has received a Certificate of Distinction and FHA a Certificate of Merit.
Louis Michel, European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid, said: "I warmly congratulate Development Workshop France and Focus Humanitarian Assistance on winning this prestigious award. Better than just waiting for the next tragedy, the Commission is committed to supporting disaster risk reduction work. We are glad to have highly professional and dedicated partner organisations like DWF and FHA to help us improve the capacity of communities in developing countries at risk from natural disasters". Both organisations work with local communities in developing countries that are particularly vulnerable to natural disasters and helping them to protect themselves against such disasters. Both are honoured for their comprehensive work in disaster risk reduction. This work includes, for example, Commission-funded and DWF-run preparedness projects in Vietnam demonstrating that preventive strengthening of buildings is cost-effective and efficient. Focus Humanitarian Assistance is an affiliate of the Aga Khan Development Network. It received the Certificate of Merit for its disaster prevention, mitigation and preparedness activities to reduce the vulnerability of over half a million people living in the mountainous northern areas of Pakistan. In 2008, Development Workshop France won the UN Habitat Award for its work preventing typhoon damage to housing in central Vietnam.
The UN Sasakawa Award for Disaster Reduction was established in 1986 by the founding chairman of the Nippon Foundation, Ryoichi Sasakawa. (A.N./transl.fl)