As climate and disaster risks multiply, building safer dwellings is the shared responsibility of governments, developers, engineers and communities says UN Secretary-General António Guterres

Our homes are where we sleep, care for one another, and build our daily lives. But how they are planned, built, and maintained can determine whether or not they keep us safe.

Every year, millions of homes are damaged or destroyed, displacing families and deepening poverty, with some of the heaviest tolls falling on older persons, persons with disabilities, low-income households, and others vulnerable groups.

That’s why the theme of this year’s International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, “Resilience Starts at Home”, is so critical. Safety begins where we live, and preparedness at the household level – understanding the risks, having a plan, and acting swiftly – can mean the difference between life and loss.

But households cannot do this alone. Governments must enforce risk-informed building codes and land-use planning. The private sector must invest in resilient construction and affordable insurance. And everyone, everywhere, must have access to effective early-warning systems that reach them in time – the central promise of the Early Warnings for All initiative. We must also reform the international financial architecture to ensure developing countries can access the preparedness resources they need.

As climate and disaster risks multiply, building safer dwellings is the shared responsibility of governments, developers, engineers and communities. Together, let us commit to making every home a resilient one, now, and in the future.