International Day for Disaster Reduction is held every 13 October, to celebrate how people and communities around the world are reducing their exposure to disasters. The 2019 edition continues under the “Sendai Seven” campaign, centred on the seven targets of the Sendai Framework. This year, the focus is on “Building Back Better” as a means of Disaster Mitigation.
The UN General Assembly called for the International Day for Disaster Reduction in 1989 as a way to promote a global culture of risk-awareness and disaster mitigation. It also includes disaster prevention and preparedness.
International Day for Disaster Reduction Seeks to Address the Following:
• Natural disasters include storms, earthquakes, floods, tsunamis or even heatwaves and droughts.
• Over the past 20 years, 1.3 million people have died as a result of economic disasters, averaging US$ 250 to US$ 300 billion a year, and 19.3 million people have left their jobs and homes, worldwide.
• We are literally helpless against these problems, but with proper preparation, early warning, and more developed infrastructure, we can dramatically reduce losses and save lives.
• There is a need to raise awareness of risk management and to inform the public about what to do in the event of a natural disaster.
• That’s why disaster management is one of the 17 goals of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
• The International Day for Disaster Reduction also provides a global platform to foster coordination between countries to share their experience and knowledge.
For more information on the week of activities, please contact NEMA at 466-5100. To receive the NDMD Calendar of events, please call 469-1423.