UNDRR News

The latest news from the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), the lead UN agency for the coordination of disaster risk reduction (DRR).

United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction - Regional Office for Europe & Central Asia

Mr. Robert Glasser (right), the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction, and Mr. Markku Markkula, President of the European Committee of the Regions, sign the Action Plan (Photo: European Union / Jean-Louis Flemal)
Press release
#IDDR2016: UNISDR and European Committee of the Regions join forces to reduce disaster risks

The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) and the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) have agreed a five-year plan to support EU cities and regions to take more concerted action to reduce the impact of natural disasters. It specifically wants to increase the number of towns and cities with disaster risk-reduction strategies by 2020.

United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction - Regional Office for Europe & Central Asia
Meteoalarm uses simple colour coding and jargon-free explanations to help the public understanding real-time weather risks (Photo: Meteoalarm)
Update
#IDDR2016: Europe’s Meteolarm offers life-saving alerts

Rolled out in the wake of one of the deadliest storms to strike Europe in decades, the continent-wide weather information service Meteoalarm plays a life-saving role by raising public awareness of how to curb risks, and fosters international cooperation into the bargain.

United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction - Regional Office for Europe & Central Asia
Turkey takes charge of the European Forum: Mr. Erkan Koparmal (left), strategic chief at its disaster management body AFAD, receives the gavel from Mr. Taito Vainio, senior adviser at the Interior Ministry of outgoing president Finland (Photo: UNISDR).
Update
Turkey takes the helm of European disaster risk body

Turkey took the helm of Europe’s top disaster risk reduction forum today, ahead of a new drive by the continent’s governments to widen efforts to curb the threats posed by natural and man-made hazards.

United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction - Regional Office for Europe & Central Asia
European countries are determined to link efforts to reduce disaster risk to the drive for sustainable development and the struggle against climate change (Photo: European Commission)
Update
Linking disaster risk, development and climate change

Efforts to curb the threats posed by natural and man-made hazards need to be tied tightly with sustainable development and climate change adaptation, according to participants at Europe’s top disaster risk reduction forum.

United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction - Regional Office for Europe & Central Asia
Participants at the 7th Annual Meeting of the European Forum for Disaster Risk Reduction, who together aim to accelerate efforts to curb the threat of natural and man-made hazards (Photo: Pasi Autio)
Update
Europe holds key disaster risk reduction talks

Europe today began its annual talks on curbing the threat of natural and man-made hazards, with the aim of accelerating efforts to achieve the goals of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.

United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction - Regional Office for Europe & Central Asia
Ms. Päivi Sillanaukee (centre), Permanent Secretary at Finland’s Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, receives the Damir Čemerin Award on behalf of the Finnish Global Health Security Agenda team, from Mr. Robert Glasser (left), the UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction, and Mr. Kai Mykkänen (right), Finland’s Minister for Foreign Trade and Development (Photo: Pasi Autio)
Update
Finnish global health security body wins European disaster risk award

The Finnish arm of an international grouping working to ward off biological and health threats such as Ebola and the Zika virus has won a pan-European award that recognises innovative approaches to reducing disaster risk.

United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction - Regional Office for Europe & Central Asia
Warning signs are a critical way to raise public awareness of the risk of tsunamis. Israel dotted its coast with them in the run-up to an exercise this year. (Photo: National Emergency Management Authority of Israel)
Update
Public awareness key to curbing tsunami risk

Scientists and disaster risk experts from the Mediterranean and beyond have vowed to step up efforts to raise awareness among the general public of how to react to the threat of tsunamis.

United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR)
United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction - Regional Office for Europe & Central Asia
The 1755 Lisbon earthquake and tsunami claimed tens of thousands of lives. Tsunami risk has a low profile in Europe, but the North Atlantic, Mediterranean and Black Sea coasts have been hit by deadly waves throughout history.
Update
Europe to strengthen tsunami alert system

Nations on the North Atlantic, Mediterranean and Black Seas have decided to bolster their tsunami warning systems by giving France, Greece, Italy and Turkey a regionwide alert role.

United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction - Regional Office for Europe & Central Asia
Rescue workers at the scene of last Wednesday's earthquake
Update
Italy commits to long-term earthquake preparedness

A week ago today, Italy was struck by a 6.2 earthquake which has claimed at least 292 lives. The Italian Prime Minister, Mr. Matteo Renzi, has announced that a new national earthquake preparedness plan is under preparation.

United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction - Regional Office for Europe & Central Asia
Participants at the Florence High-Level Forum meet with the Italian Civil Protection agency.
Update
Action for urban resilience

A two day high level forum concludes today in Florence with recommendations on series of actions required to build urban resilience to disasters.

United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction - Regional Office for Europe & Central Asia

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