UNHQ New York Marks Inaugural International Day in the Memory of the Victims of Earthquakes
The United Nations marked a historic first on 29 April 2026, observing the inaugural International Day for the Memory of the Victims of Earthquakes at UN Headquarters and the Permanent Mission of Indonesia in New York. The day brought together Member States, UN officials and academia in a shared commitment to honour those lost to earthquakes and strengthen global action on seismic risk.
Established by the UN General Assembly through resolution A/RES/79/285 in April 2025, the International Day is co-sponsored by Uzbekistan, the Philippines and Chile and observed annually on 29 April. The inaugural observance was co-organized by the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) and the Co-Chairs of the Group of Friends for Disaster Risk Reduction (Australia, Indonesia, Peru and Norway) and the Permanent Mission of Chile, Haiti, Japan, Türkiye and Uzbekistan.
Morning: Learning to Respond
The day opened with a practical earthquake safety drill at Conference Room F of UN Headquarters. Coordinated by the UN Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS), the session demonstrated life-saving preparedness protocols to staff, diplomats, and invited guests, a reminder that readiness begins before disaster strikes.
The drill was followed by an immersive virtual reality experience developed by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), which placed participants inside a simulated earthquake scenario. The VR experience drew strong interest throughout the morning, offering a visceral understanding of what earthquake survivors face — and underlining why preparedness is not abstract but deeply personal.
Afternoon: From Memory to Action
The centerpiece of the day was a high-level panel discussion held in Conference Room 5, moderated by Ms. Paola Albrito, Director of UNDRR. The session opened with a keynote address by seismologist Felix Waldhauser of Columbia University's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, who outlined the state of earthquake science and the growing tools available to reduce risk.
Panelists brought perspectives from countries with deep and recent experience of seismic devastation. Haiti's voice was carried by H.E. Pierre Ericq Pierre, underscoring the compounding effects of disaster in fragile contexts. A pre-recorded video message from Mayor Onishi of Kumamoto, Japan, reflected on the city's long path of recovery and reconstruction following the 2016 earthquakes. H.E. Fikriye Asli Güven, representing Türkiye, spoke to the lessons of the 2023 earthquakes, which killed nearly 58,000 people across Türkiye and Syria.
Dr. Ebru Gencer of Columbia University's Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation offered analysis on the intersection of urban development and seismic risk — a critical lens given that rapid urbanization in earthquake-prone regions continues to amplify vulnerability.
Evening: Commemoration and Commitment
As evening fell, the observance moved to the Permanent Mission of Indonesia, co-hosted by Indonesia, Japan and Uzbekistan, for a solemn commemorative reception. The dignified commemorative gathering opened with a a minute of silence and a lightening of candles ceremony, followed by a chamber music performance by four musicians of the UN Orchestra, setting a tone of reflection and respect.