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This month from UNDRR: Key developments from UNDRR'S global work on disaster risk reduction, including progress on Early Warning for All, data-driven approaches to resilience, and country-level action.
29 April: International Day in Memory of the Victims of Earthquakes
Mark your calendars for the inaugural annual commemoration of the International Day in Memory of the Victims of Earthquakes on 29 April. Designated by the UN General Assembly last year, this day serves as a global moment to honour the victims of earthquakes and reaffirm our shared commitment to building earthquake resilience.
As part of the commemoration, UNDRR invites governments and stakeholders to organise “micro-drills” as part of our “Drop. Cover. Hold on. 10 Seconds to Save a Life” campaign. By turning these practices into a natural reflex, people can increase their chances of survival once the ground shakes.
New global framework to strengthen disaster-related statistic
The 57th Session of the United Nations Statistical Commission has formally endorsed the Global Disaster-Related Statistics Framework (G-DRSF) . As the first global framework of its kind, the G-DRSF will strengthen how disaster-related statistics are defined, compiled, and used within national statistical systems. As a long-standing supporter of the G-DRSF development process, UNDRR welcomed the move, with Head of UNDRR Kamal Kishore describing the endorsement as a “major milestone in creating a common language to drive disaster prevention.”
Leveraging disaster data for resilience in fragile and climate-stressed countries
On the margins of the 2026 Humanitarian Networks and Partnerships Week (HNPW), UNDRR and partners explored how countries in fragile and climate-stressed settings are using disaster data to act before disasters strike. Through a session titled “DELTA Resilience: Enabling the Use of Disaster Impact Data for Risk-Informed, Inclusive and Climate-Resilient Humanitarian Action,” participants from Somalia, the Philippines, and Syria shared how disaster impact data is already informing anticipatory action in diverse contexts. Highlighting the value of such data, a representative from Syria’s Ministry of Emergency and Disaster Management explained that his country was an early adopter of the new DELTA Resilience system because previously “Syria had no system in place to systematically capture disaster impacts, despite the occurrence of numerous events.”
São Tomé and Príncipe advances its early warning and local action
On 5 March, São Tomé and Príncipe released its Early Warnings for All Roadmap thanks to technical support from UNDRR and funding from the Portuguese Cooperation and the Climate Risk and Early Warning Systems (CREWS) Initiative. The Roadmap’s implementation will build on support provided by UNDRR and Portuguese Cooperation in 2025 for local authorities to develop local resilience strategies under the Making Cities Resilient 2030 (MCR2030) initiative. A focus in 2026 will be supporting the Água Grande municipality to finalize and implement its local DRR strategy.
‘Consortium for Alexandria’ launched to strengthen coastal resilience
UNDRR supported the Government of Egypt in launching the “Consortium for Alexandria,” a partnership designed to protect Egypt’s historic coastal city from climate-related impacts. The consortium brings together government and international partners to unify efforts through an integrated platform for exchanging expertise and mobilizing resources. With the support of the UN system, the consortium will serve as a catalyst for tangible action and the strengthening of local resilience capacities.
Learn about disaster risk reduction financing
UNDRR has developed a series of online e-learning modules on financing for disaster risk reduction. These modules are designed to strengthen the understanding of how countries can mobilise resources for DRR from diverse sources, including public, private, and international financing, and how to conduct investment gap analyses to better inform planning and decision-making.