Disaster Risk

Rescue workers arrive at the scene of the Mount Merapi volcano in Indonesia

Asia-Pacific nations agree on disaster readiness strategy at UN-backed forum

28 October 2010
Recognizing the vulnerability of their region to natural disasters, 50 countries across Asia and the Pacific today agreed at a United Nations-backed conference to make risk reduction a component of their national climate change adaptation policies to cope with extreme weather events.
A powerful earthquake hit northwest China's Qinghai Province on 14 April 2010

Asia-Pacific most prone to natural disasters but lacks preparedness – UN report

26 October 2010
Countries in Asia and the Pacific are more prone to natural disasters than those in other parts of the world, with people in the region four times more likely to be affected by natural catastrophe than those in Africa and 25 times more vulnerable than Europeans or North Americans, a United Nations report released today shows.

UN assesses disaster risk reduction efforts by Dominican Republic

19 July 2010
The United Nations has completed a first-of-its-kind assessment of disaster risk reduction efforts in the Dominican Republic, recommending that the Caribbean nation strengthen building codes as part of its efforts to mitigate the impact of hurricanes and other hazards.

Disaster preparedness key to saving lives when calamity strikes – Ban

19 March 2010
Lives can be saved and the destruction of property minimized when natural disasters strike if governments invest adequate resources in disaster risk reduction measures, Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said today.

Improving mobile communications during disasters focus of new UN partnership

9 July 2009
The United Nations telecom agency has teamed up with a United States-based wireless services provider to improve mobile communications in preparing for disasters and in responding once they strike.
Loss of life can be minimized with investment in disaster prevention measures (file photo)

Cut disaster deaths in half, Ban challenges officials at global forum

16 June 2009
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today challenged representatives from over 150 governments to halve the number of lives lost due to disasters by 2015.