HAMBURG, 8 July, 2017: RESULTS UK welcomes the Prime Minister’s announcement at the G20 of a new Centre for Global Disaster Protection and the use of insurance to provide financing in emergencies – provided it reaches and benefits the world’s poorest people. The announcement will provide the Centre with up to £30 million, most of which will be spent providing expert advice, developing cutting edge science and assisting countries to develop robust plans for managing the disaster risks they face. As part of this initiative, up to £8 million will also be put into a pilot project to assist the poorest countries with paying for insurance protection.
In response, Aaron Oxley, RESULTS UK Executive Director, said: “Insurance, while not a silver bullet, is an important tool to help countries build resilience before disasters strike, rather than reacting afterwards at staggering human and economic cost.
However, it is essential that the government works in partnership with southern governments, civil society and the people most vulnerable to extreme weather to ensure insurance reaches the most vulnerable and not benefit private companies looking to make a profit.”
As the Centre is established, we look forward to working closely with DFID and others to ensure the Centre itself and the advice it provides embeds the pro-poor principles set out in our report: Weathering a Risky Climate: the role of insurance in reducing vulnerability to extreme weather.
For further information, please contact Tom Maguire on [email protected] or on 02077933970.
RESULTS UK is a movement of passionate, committed, everyday people who together use their voices to influence political decisions that will bring an end to poverty. For more information please visit www.results.org.uk.