ABS-CBNNews.com reports that the United Nations (UN) Secretary General's Special Representative on Disaster Risk Reduction Margareta Wahlström "extended her sympathy to the people of Mindanao in the Philippines, following the great loss of life resulting from tropical storm Sendong."

At the same time, Wahlström pointed out: "There are many lessons to be learned about risk management from this tragedy. The first is that more must be done to ensure early warning systems are effective in an age when climate change is intensifying the impact of typhoons. The storm was identified two days before flash floods swept through Cagayan de Oro City and Illigan City. More must be done to educate people on disasters and climate change so they understand the risk they run when they refuse to heed warnings and do not evacuate on time."

Wahlström further noted that people should make an effort "to understand the deadly cocktail of exposure and vulnerability created by poverty, rapid urbanization, and deforestation."

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