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.