Dutch minister Schultz appointed vice chairman of UNSGAB's world leaders platform on water and disasters

Dutch minister Melanie Schultz van Haegen of Infrastructure and the Environment has been appointed Vice Chairman of the High Level Experts and Leaders Panel on Water and Disasters (HELP).

Schultz was nominated by the current chairman of HELP, the former prime minister of South Korea, Han Seung-soo.

Dutch knowledge and experience
Schultz welcomed her appointment . "The number of water-related disasters is increasing and the damage, both material but also in number of people's lives - is increasing. The Netherlands has the world a lot to offer when it comes down to knowledge and experience with water management. I cannot and will not wait and watch the effects of floods, droughts, hurricanes and tsunamis to increase. Noblesse oblige, for that matter."

Building smarter
Schultz : "Nature is stronger than man. But we can try to limit the consequences of natural disasters. Not only with dikes and large dams, but also by building smarter, by giving nature more space and by making proper evacuation plans. If we combine international expertise, we can make a difference."

About UNSGAB-HELP
The panel aims to reduce flood hazard. It's main task is to get  the prevention of water-related disasters on the international agenda and help with practical, innovative solutions. The panel is an advisory committee to Secretary-general Ban Ki -Moon of the United Nations and is affiliated to UNSGAB , the United Nations Secretary - Generals' Advisory Board on Water and Sanitation.

About minister Schultz
As State Secretary for Transport, Public Works and Water Management Melanie Schultz van Haegen became responsible for the Dutch national water management for the first time in 2002. In 2007 she left politics to return again in 2010 as Minister of Infrastructure and the Environment.

In 2012 she was again reappointed in her current position as Minister of Infrastructure and the Environment, this time again with the portfolio policy for the national water management.

This news item was originally published on the website of the Dutch ministry of infrastructure and environment (in Dutch only).

(top photo: Minister Schultz during the opening ceremony of the International Water Week Amsterdam on 4 November 2013)

Also read on minister Schultz on this website
● IWW/Aquatech: Collective call for integrated water solutions at opening ceremony, 5 November 2013
● H2O9 Forum New York: Minister Schultz urges to keep all flood protection options open, 9 September 2013
● Better flood and drought preparedness urged by high-level UN session on water-related disasters, 7 March 2013

More information
UNSGAB water and disaster
New York, USA
www.unsgab.org/index.php?menu=227

Ministry of Infrastructure and environment
The Hague, the Netherlands
www.government.nl/ministries/ienm