UNDRR News

As a region hard hit by weather-related events, UNISDR is urging Asian government ministers meeting at the Fourth Asian Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction this Monday to incorporate disaster risk reduction as part of their national policies to cope with climate change, and with it, more predicted floods, cyclones and drought.

The second round of government-led progress review on the implementation of the Hyogo Framework for Action is underway. More than fifty countries have already carried out the self-assessment. A number of regional bodies have also started to conduct an assessment of their progress in disaster risk reduction. The results of the country and regional assessments received before the end of 2010 will be presented in the 2011 Global Assessment Report. > View full story

A mentoring programme created by UNISDR and the Stockholm Environment Institute trained its first batch of young researchers, most in the mid-20s to mid-30s, in response to a request from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) for more peer-reviewed literature by authors from developing countries. > View full story

The campaign was officially launched in the Arab region by Margareta Wahlström, Special Representative for the Secretary-General on Disaster Risk Reduction, followed by a roundtable discussion between city officials from Arab cities participating in the

Nairobi is one of the latest cities to join the World Disaster Reduction Campaign “Making Cities Resilient - My city is getting ready!” The signing in ceremony was led by Pedro Basabe, Head of the UNISDR Regional Office for Africa and it took place on 13 October during the celebration of International Day for Disaster Reduction at the Korogocho informal settlements. > View full story

Over 200 people attended a public debate on what makes a city resilient against disaster, in Shanghai, China, moderated by top Chinese anchorman Bai Yan Song of CCTV. Mr. Bai posed questions to both the panelists and the public, challenging them to think about creative solutions to reduce disaster risk. > View full story

“Disaster risk reduction is an obligation for all–donors, governments and the private sector,” said Toni Frisch from the Swiss Humanitarian Aid Department. “We cannot wait for more disasters to happen to understand the benefits of disaster risk reduction policies. It is easy to show the damage caused by a disaster but much more difficult to get attention when the damage is invisible.”

Mom Rajawongse Sukhumbhand Paribatra, the Governor of Bangkok, was appointed today Champion for the UNISDR World Disaster Campaign, Making Cities Resilient: My City Is Getting Ready! The appointment of Mom Rajawongse.Paribatra recognizes the work that has been accomplished in Bangkok by all the governors over the past 25 year to reduce flood risk. The awarding ceremony took place at the UN Conference Centre in Bangkok during the official campaign launch in Thailand.

The nominated candidate can be an individual or an institution that has carried out outstanding and internationally recognized action that contributes to the strategic goals and priorities of the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015.

The UN system and ASEAN will commemorate the 2010 International Day for Disaster Reduction, and the ASEAN day for Disaster Management under the theme "Making Cities Resilient: My City Is Getting Ready!" The commemorations will take place on Wednesday, 13 October 2010 from 09:00-17:30 hours at the UN Conference Centre in Bangkok. > View full story