Disaster Risk

Three cities win UN-backed award for innovation in disaster risk reduction

12 May 2011
Cities in the Philippines, Argentina and Canada have won United Nations-backed awards for their efforts to strengthen disaster preparedness, the UN office tasked with assisting countries strengthen disaster risk reduction has announced.

As risks from disasters rise, UN chief calls for better preparedness

10 May 2011
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today called for accelerated efforts to strengthen the capacity to withstand disasters across the world, saying the destruction wrought by such events can be avoided or mitigated by enhancing resilience through technology and other measures aimed at boosting preparedness.
The earthquake in Haiti on 12 January 2010 topped the list of disasters for last year

Countries must aim for more coordinated action to reduce disaster risk – UN report

10 March 2011
The United Nations office assisting countries with disaster risk reduction is calling for more coordinated and coherent action across different sectors of government to reduce setbacks caused by hazards such as droughts, earthquakes and hurricanes.
The earthquake in Haiti on 12 January 2010 topped the list of disasters for last year

General Assembly stresses need to invest in disaster mitigation measures

9 February 2011
With earthquakes, heat waves, floods and snowstorms affecting 208 million people, killing nearly 300,000, and costing $110 billion in losses last year alone, the General Assembly today debated mitigation steps such as building safer schools, hospitals and cities to reduce the terrible toll.