New York, 11 October 2016. “The implementation of the 2030 Agenda, and in like manner, the Samoa Pathway as indispensable social development frameworks of Small Island States reinforce the importance of counting on an effective global alliance for development”, expressed the delegate of Cuba to the Second Committee, Yilianne Sánchez Rodríguez, after pointing out the need to change the unsustainable production and consumption patterns of current societies and advance in setting sustainable development models, that root out inequality, discrimination, poverty and social exclusion.
Within her statement on Agenda item 19 on Sustainable Development, the Cuban delegate described the way in which Cuba has made considerable efforts, mainly with its own resources, in the implementation of climate change and disaster risk reduction policies, included in the economic and social strategies and plans, as well as for environmental protection. Thus, she highlighted scientific and research capacity building aimed at the awareness of the impact of climate change for years 2050 and 2100, jointly with the Programme to Confront Climate Change, adopted in 2007, underpinning the nations’ studies on disaster hazards, vulnerability y risks.
The Cuban delegate noted that despite more than 50 years of economic, commercial and financial Embargo imposed against our country, Cuba has focused all efforts to safeguard the achievements of the Revolution in terms of disaster reduction by establishing preservation of people´s life and property as the main premise, together with the willingness to continue supporting those countries affected by natural disasters selflessly and with solidarity.
Under such endeavors, the medical brigade No. 24 of the Henry Reeve International Contingent of Specialized Physicians in Disaster Situations and Serious Epidemics travelled from Havana to Haiti last 8 October. She also explained that such a brigade, set up by 38 Cuban healthcare professionals will join the work of more than 600 Cuban health collaborators that are offering their services in Haiti, to mitigate the effects of Hurricane Matthew on the health and wellbeing of that sister nation.
At the end of her statement, she ratified Cuba’s full support to the protection of the Caribbean Sea, its preservation and sustainable use and noted the relevance of Havana’s Declaration “United for a Sustainable Caribbean" and Plan of Action 2016-2018, documents adopted at the VII Summit of theAssociation of Caribbean States, held in Cuba on 4 June 2016. (Permanent Mission of Cuba to the United Nations)