On 26 December 2014 at 13.30 hrs., Mrs. Margareta Wahlström, Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General (SRSG) on Disaster Risk Reduction, called on and discussed issues of mutual interests with General Tanasak Patimapragorn, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, at Pullman Khao Lak Katiliya Resort, Phang Nga province on the occasion of the SRSG’s visit to Thailand to attend the Remembrance Ceremony “Ten Years on: Remembering the Indian Ocean Tsunami” at the Police Boat T 813 Tsunami Memorial.

On this occasion, both sides discussed and exchanged experiences concerning disaster management especially regional and international cooperation on disaster management as well as Thailand’s role in various regional frameworks on disaster management and risk reduction. In addition, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs reaffirmed Thailand’s commitment to support the 3rd UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction during 14 – 18 March 2015 in Sendai, Japan, of which, will be attended by high level representative of the Government of Thailand.

Subsequently, at 14.15 hrs., Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs welcomed and held bilateral discussion with Ms. Valerie Amos, Under-Secretary-General   for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator  who also visited Thailand to attend the Remembrance Ceremony.

In this regard, the two sides discussed and exchanged experiences on humanitarian assistance and disaster management as well as the cooperation between Thailand and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). The Under-Secretary-General expressed her appreciation for the Thai side’s unwavering commitment to disaster preparedness at every level especially within ASEAN and the continued cooperation Thailand has extended to OCHA. The Under Secretary-General also highlighted the close cooperation between Thai authorities and the local communities in strengthening disaster preparedness at the community level as a role model --- as exemplified by the Ban Namkhem disaster resilient community model project ---  which can be scaled up as part of the best practices in disaster preparedness.