UNDRR News

Under the patronage of the Minister of Water and Environment in Yemen, the UNDRR Regional Office for the Arab States and in coordination with the Ministry of Water and Environment organized a National workshop on Sendai Framework Monitor and Disaster Loss Accounting System from 30 January to 2 February 2022.

More than 200 Filipino professionals have attended disaster management trainings in Japan, providing an opportunity to the Philippines’ Office of Civil Defense to learn from Japan’s experiences, technology and innovation.

UNDRR has launched a survey collecting inputs from stakeholders as part of the Midterm Review (MTR) of the Implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 (Sendai Framework).

In response to these needs and with the support of the Japan Government, the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) Regional Office for the Arab States in cooperation with the Egyptian Cabinet Information and Decision Support Centre (IDSC) organized a national workshop from 30 to 31 January 2022 as part of Egypt’s national efforts to build resilience to disasters, aiming to reduce risks on sustainable development plans, by integrating biological hazards, as well as the method of adaptation to climate change in policies, plans, and programs at all levels, within the framework of UNDRR in implementing the regional initiative “Building back better after COVID-19”.

Floods of 2021 in Timor-Leste presented opportunities to build back better in recovery efforts thanks to international support from countries like Australia.

2021 was a very important year for disaster risk reduction. Although the pandemic impacted more strongly a year earlier, last year was vital in the reflection of systemic risk and the importance of DRR.

UNDRR Regional Office for the Arab States and the government of Lebanon organized the National Consultation for Integration of Biological Hazard in the National Disaster Risk Reduction in Lebanon

In the last few years, our world has been pummeled by a disease we were not prepared for, in spite of the fact that in 2015 when UN member states came together to negotiate and agree on the global blue print for disaster risk reduction and resilience, the Sendai Framework for DRR, biological hazards were　incorporated as the next big hazard we need to protect ourselves from. COVID-19 has left hardly anyone or any aspect of our lives untouched. Losing loved ones, becoming ill, struggling with isolation, loss of livelihoods and changing social norms.

During the 'VII Regional Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction in the Americas and the Caribbean’ that took place between November 1st to 4th, 2021, MCR2030 led the session "Making cities resilient: the urban challenge". The session addressed risk from a comprehensive and systemic approach, emphasizing one the one hand the need to integrate knowledge and action on climate adaptation, disaster risk reduction and resilience-building in urban development; and on the other hand, the need to include local communities in building urban resilience. The winner videos of the 'Voices of the Community' contest were also presented in the session.

The UN SRSG for DRR, Mami Mizutori, today extended her condolences to all those affected by the volcanic eruption and tsunami in Tonga and urged greater investment in early warning systems and resilient infrastructure, around the world.