Members of the Logistics and Telecommunications Cluster,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Esteemed colleagues,
Good morning and welcome to ITU.
This is the first time we have hosted the Logistics and Telecommunications Cluster Plenary here at ITU.
It is a pleasure to have you all here as we come together to confront serious and pressing challenges.
As you know, we are living at a time when the scale, frequency and complexity of disasters are all increasing worldwide in no small part as a consequence of climate change the effects of which are unpredictable but often devastating.
These challenges are compounded by a rapidly evolving humanitarian landscape which is reshaping coordination mechanisms and placing new demands on how we collectively deliver effective and timely emergency telecommunications services.
At ITU, we are committed to taking a human-centric approach to everything we do and to taking into account the specific needs of the countries we serve. This also means understanding the unique needs of the least developed countries, landlocked developing countries and small island developing states, which are so often those most affected by disasters.
Ladies and gentlemen, I know you all share those priorities.
The Logistics and Telecommunications Cluster is an excellent example of how we can prepare for and respond to disasters.
It is also an example of how we deliver more when working together, how partnerships can work in practice to enhance preparedness and enable rapid, technology-enabled responses that save lives.
We meet not as two clusters, but as two halves of the same nervous system. Logistics moves the muscle – food, medicine, shelter. Telecommunications run the nerves – the data, the coordination, the SOS. If we fail to work as one, the humanitarian body collapses.
It is encouraging to see UN agencies, governments and humanitarian organizations come together and working in partnership with the private sector toward a shared objective namely, supporting countries and communities in times of crisis.
In today’s rapidly changing operational environment, maintaining adaptable, reliable, and context-specific ICT services is crucial. And it requires sustained coordination and innovation across organizations like ours.
As we look ahead, it is essential to address the enabling conditions for effective response including facilitating the rapid installation and deployment of emergency telecommunications equipment; ensuring access to networks and services; and strengthening regulatory and operational readiness.
And it is essential that we do so before disasters strike.
I look forward to your discussions on how the Cluster can continue to evolve to meet these challenges and remain responsive to the needs of those affected by disasters.
Thank you!
