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International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction

International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction is observed on October 13, every year. The day aims to promote a global culture of risk-awareness and disaster reduction. The day celebrates how people and communities around the world are reducing their exposure to disasters and raising awareness about the importance of reining in the risks that they face.

This year’s International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction is all about governance. One of the theme is "Disaster risk governance". You can measure good disaster risk governance in lives saved, reduced numbers of disaster-affected people, and reduced economic losses. The recent virus attack and the climate emergency are telling us that we need a clear vision, plans, and competent, empowered institutions acting on scientific evidence for the public good.

History

The International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction was started in 1989, after a call by the United Nations General Assembly for a day to promote a global culture of risk-awareness and disaster reduction.

In 2015 at the Third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in Sendai, Japan, the international community was reminded that disasters hit hardest at the local level with the potential to cause loss of life and great social and economic upheaval. Sendai had suffered a devastating earthquake and tsunami in 2011 in which 20,000 people lost their lives.

We can't forget that sudden disasters displace millions of people every year. Disasters can be due to climate change that paves a negative impact on investment in sustainable development and the desired outcomes.

Disaster Risk Reduction

Every two years, the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) works with thinkers, practitioners, experts, and innovators to investigate the state of risk across the globe: highlighting what’s new, spotting emerging trends, revealing disturbing patterns, examining behavior, and presenting progress in reducing risk.