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The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) is glad to announce that the registration for the seventh session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (GP2022) is now open.

For the urban coastal city of Hong Kong, typhoons are a regular occurrence from May to October. Consequently, Hong Kong’s infrastructure is designed to cope with the strong winds, floods, and storm surges they bring. Recently, however, the territory experienced two powerful storms in consecutive years. In 2017, Super Typhoon Hato struck the region, and in the following year, the city witnessed Super Typhoon Mangkhut, the strongest typhoon since 1983. But Hong Kong suffered lower economic losses from both storms when compared with the neighboring Guangdong region and the city of Macau, thanks partly to its well-coordinated response and resilient infrastructure.

In 2022, 274 million people will need humanitarian assistance around the world. Mami Mizutori, SRSG and Head of UNDRR, calls on countries to increase investment in disaster preparedness and prevention to save lives.

On 25 November 2021, a four-day Training Academy on disaster risk reduction and early warning systems took place. Experts responsible for disaster risk management and meteorological/hydrological services from IGAD, IGAD Member States, Southern Africa Development Community (SADC), as well as Malawi, Mozambique and the Republic of Tanzania participated.

On 23 November 2021, an exit workshop was held on the Government of Italy funded project on “Disaster Risk Reduction Capacity Building in Ethiopia”. Experts gathered to share main outcomes, exchange experience, and discuss the way forward.

Governments across Europe and Central Asia have backed a roadmap towards preventing future disasters including new pandemics in the face of growing threats from climate change and disease outbreaks.

The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) launched a new report this week to support small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in being disaster-ready.

On 19 November 2021, the Seventh High-level Meeting for Disaster Risk Reduction was held in Nairobi, Kenya in hybrid format. Ministers and Delegates from Member States in Africa adopted the Nairobi Declaration and the matrix of the Programme of Action for the implementation of Sendai Framework in Africa (2021-2025). These were the main outcomes of the Eighth Africa Regional Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (AfRP) that was held from 16-18 November.

Barcelona, Greater Manchester, Helsingborg and Milan comprise four of the first six cities awarded as global Making Cities Resilient 2030 Resilience Hubs for climate and disaster risk reduction.

On 17 November 2021, the Government of Republic of Kenya officially opened the 8th Africa Regional Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction as the host country. This key event on disaster risk reduction is convened at a critical time in a context where Africa is facing increasing challenges from disaster risks aggravated by the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change.