THE IPU ALARMED AT THE OUTBREAK OF AVIAN INFLUENZA
The 113th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) expressed its alarm at the outbreak of avian influenza in various countries and the international propagation of the disease. "While official estimates of the potential human casualty rates of a pandemic caused by avian influenza may differ, we believe that even the most modest predictions would severely disrupt out society and trigger crises of the utmost gravity. We are aware that this disease has already destroyed many livelihoods in different parts of the world", said the President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), Chilean senator Sergio Páez.
In the light of the foregoing, the IPU exhorts all parliaments to do everything within their power to ensure that governments treat this new crisis with foresight and resolute action in order to contain its effects while they can still be controlled. The more than 500 members of parliament gathered in Geneva express their support for the endeavours of the United Nations Coordinator for avian and human influenza and urge their Member Parliaments to play their part in ensuring that the necessary funds are made available and that information and guidance is adequately disseminated among populations.
The Director-General of the World Health Organization, Mr. Lee Jong-wook, addressed the IPUI 113th Assembly. "Will there be a human influenza pandemic? There will. There is only one condition missing - a virus that is rapidly transmitted from person to person. When will it come? We do not know, but the new virus could appear any time. What is the expected political and social cost? It will be huge. No Head of State, Parliament or Government can afford to be caught off guard", he said.
The WHO Director-General stressed that legislators can plan an important role. "The parliamentary community can be directly supportive of these preparedness and communications plans, for example, by making sure that all constituents are well-informed about the situation as it emerges. Everyone should know what to do, and what not to do. Good communication is key".
The 113th IPU Assembly will also discuss an emergency item entitled "Natural disasters: The role of parliaments in prevention, rehabilitation, reconstruction and the protection of vulnerable groups", submitted by the delegations of Mexico, Pakistan and India.
Established in 1889 and with its Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, the IPU, the oldest multilateral political organisation, currently brings together 143 affiliated parliaments and seven regional assemblies as associate members. The world organisation of parliaments has an Office in New York, which acts as its Permanent Observer at the United Nations.
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