Rashid Khalikov, head of the Geneva branch of the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, said in an interview that the OCHA intends to use its office in Kobe to expand its relations with Japan, in an effort to improve disaster preparedness worldwide, reports the Japan Times. The Kobe office will study how "we can benefit from the national experience and expertise that Japan has gathered over many years through responding to natural disasters and building resilient local communities," said Khalikov.
He also welcomed the government's intention to host the 2015 World Conference on Disaster Reduction in Japan, saying it is "important to invest in disaster risk reduction to make everybody prepared." "The fact that Japan is taking the lead in (disaster preparedness) should be supported and appreciated by the international community," Khalikov said.