UNDRR News

“In hosting what is now a virtual gathering we are already demonstrating the indispensable qualities of partnership and determination as we live through the most pressing disaster of our times,” Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness said in a video address to the opening ceremony of the Vll Regional Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction in the Americas and the Caribbean.

In the past year, we have seen that the political ambition to support vulnerable communities has grown. As an international community we have improved our understanding of the positive impact of pre-arranged risk finance and having anticipatory measures in place in case of disasters. At the same time, we need to push even more for strong implementation and impact, to make this vision of support for vulnerable communities possible.

With the adherence of all municipal corporations to MCR2030, Jamaica shows its commitment to achieving a sustainable and resilient future.

“I am very encouraged that the private sector is leading in so many ways,” Mami Mizutor, head of the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction,i told a closing session of the ARISE Forum – Americas and the Caribbean, in advance of next week’s VII Regional Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction hosted by the Government of Jamaica.

Journalists from across the Americas region were urged to spread the word that natural hazards such as earthquakes and tornadoes may be impossible to stop but that there is nothing inevitable about the loss of life and economic damage they inflict.

The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Climate Prediction and Application Centre (ICPAC) was officially opened by His Excellency President Uhuru Kenyatta in Nairobi.

The UNDRR launched a new report this week - Delivering risk-informed investment: addressing the barriers - which offers eight concrete areas where stakeholders can take immediate action to incorporate disaster risk into their investment decisions.

The Youth Forum for Disaster Risk Reduction - The Americas and the Caribbean was an opportunity for some of the region’s 106 million young people to share priorities, concerns and make proposals over four hours of presentations, plenary sessions and panels. The online gathering was held a week before representatives of governments and civil society meet, again virtually, for the VII Regional Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction.

Tsunamis are only devastating if people and their livelihoods get in the way, as suggested by the largest tsunami ever recorded only killing five people.

The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, Regional Office for Arab States launched the ARISE Egypt National Network, which is the second National ARISE network to be developed in the Arab Region.