Disaster Risk Reduction

UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe

Reducing disaster risk is a good investment, and ‘the right thing to do’, says Guterres

13 October 2019
Economic Development

There is a strong economic case for climate resilience and reducing the risk of disasters, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said in a message to mark the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, which falls on Sunday.

World Bank/Boris Rumenov Balabanov (file)

News in Brief 5 November 2018

5 November 2018
News in Brief
  • Healing of ozone layer gives hope for climate action: UN report
  • Saudi Arabia expresses Khashoggi killing ‘regret and pain’ at UN rights review
  • ‘Rare but devastating’ tsunamis underscore need for better preparation, UN chief urges on World Day
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UNICEF/Wilander

Improve collection of data on disasters, Secretary-General Guterres urges

13 October 2018
Humanitarian Aid

Highlighting the steep human and economic impact of disasters, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has called on countries to improve data collection on the catastrophes, including comprehensive accounting of economic losses, to advance progress on crisis prevention.

UN Photo/Pasqual Gorriz

Greek wildfire tragedy: world must ‘step up efforts’ against deadly fire risk, says UN disaster reduction chief

25 July 2018
Climate Change

Following the death of at least 80 people due to wildfires close to the Greek capital, Athens, in recent days, the top UN official for Disaster Risk Reduction expressed her condolences and called for more investment in wildfire suppression and prevention across the world.

UN Photo (file)

Thai cave boys spared thundershowers, highlighting extreme climate disruption: UN weather agency

10 July 2018
Climate Change

Thundershowers that have been forecast in northern Thailand luckily did not materialize, easing the extraordinary rescue of a boys’ football team and their coach, who spent well over two weeks trapped in a cave complex there, UN weather experts said on Tuesday.

ESCAP Photo

Disasters could cost Asia-Pacific region $160 billion per year by 2030, UN warns

24 April 2018
SDGs

Economic losses to disasters in Asia and the Pacific could exceed $160 billion annually by 2030, the United Nations development arm in the region warned on Tuesday, urging greater innovation in disaster risk financing.

U.S. Department of Defense

UN launches new global data collection tool to help reduce disaster, losses taking ‘a huge toll’

1 March 2018
Climate Change

The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) kicked off on Thursday a historic new effort to collect comprehensive global data on disaster losses.

<a href=http://bit.ly/2y4DRdo>Ben Parker/IRIN</a>

UN Economic and Social Council urges ‘action now;’ long-term measures to tackle natural disasters

25 October 2017
SDGs

The United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) on Wednesday called on UN Member States and the international community to ensure that in the wake of the recent devastating floods, hurricanes and earthquakes that impacted numerous countries, the humanitarian response is complemented by medium- and long-term recovery and reconstruction efforts.

UNICEF Nepal/2017/SJThapa

Disaster risk outpaces resilience in Asia-Pacific, warns UN regional commission

10 October 2017
Climate Change

Disaster risk is outpacing resilience in Asia-Pacific and putting people in this most disaster-prone region at risk of being pushed back into poverty, the latest report from a United Nations regional commission has revealed.

Robert Glasser, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction and head of UNISDR.
UN Photo/Mark Garten

Disaster protection needn’t cost billions: UN expert

24 August 2017
General News

Natural disasters are a major brake on development but low-cost initiatives can counter the threat they pose.

That’s according to senior UN official Robert Glasser, head of the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR).

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