Purpose: The International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction observed on 13 October, is an opportunity to acknowledge the progress being made toward reducing disaster risk and losses in lives, livelihoods and health, to prepare and adapt to the risks of disasters and strikes in different sectors of development. Disasters impact low- and middle-income countries disproportionately, particularly in terms of mortality, numbers of people injured, displaced and homeless, economic losses (as a percentage of GDP) and damage to critical infrastructure. We cannot eradicate poverty and hunger if we don’t step up investments in disaster risk reduction. International cooperation for developing countries through Official Development Aid (ODA) and capacity building is essential to boost disaster resilience in the face of extreme weather events and other natural and man-made hazards.
FORUM: “Fighting inequality for a resilient future.” International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction 2023. The 2023 edition takes place shortly after the Midterm Review of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, where the United Nations General Assembly in May 2023 adopted a political declaration to accelerate action to strengthen disaster resilience. The Day’s theme aligns with the Sendai Framework, the international agreement to prevent and reduce losses in lives, livelihoods, economies and basic infrastructure. It has 7 global targets and 38 indicators for measuring progress. The Sendai Framework complements the Paris Agreement on climate change, with both frameworks interlinked to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. In 2023, the International Day will look at the reciprocal relationship between disasters and inequality. Inequality and disaster vulnerability are two sides of the same coin: unequal access to services, such as finance and insurance, leaves the most at risk exposed to the danger of disasters; while disaster impacts exacerbate inequalities and push the most at risk further into poverty. Follow the conversation with the hashtags: #ResilienceForAll, #BreakTheCycle, #DRRday, #13October,#SendaiFramework, #DisasterRiskReduction.
EVENTS: A panel conference titled "Fighting Inequality for a disaster-resistant future through digital transformation and nature-based solutions" and organized by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) was held in Bihać, Bosnia and Herzegovina. During the observance of the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction 2023 on October 13th was launched the 2023 Global Survey on Persons with Disabilities and Disasters. Disasters impact everyone but have a disproportionate impact on persons with disabilities – not because of individual impairments but society’s barriers. That is why UNDRR has been championing disability inclusion since before the adoption of the Sendai Framework when it commissioned the first global survey on disability and disasters in 2013. The results of an updated survey, will be published to show what progress has been made and what barriers remain. Participate in an event on fighting inequality for a resilient future. Get the list of Upcoming events.
PUBLICATION: The UNDRR has released the results of the 2023 Global Survey on Persons with Disabilities and Disasters, which is the first global look at how persons with disabilities perceive current national and local disaster risk reduction measures since 2013.
STATEMENTS: Read the Statement of the United Nations Secretary-General for the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction 2023, October 13th and the Statement of the Head of UNDRR on International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction 2023; October 13th.
PODCASTS: Cities are the front lines in dealing with disasters and are a major emphasis of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction. Learn about the 10 Essentials for Making Cities Resilient. Listen to the audio-podcats!
CAMPAIGN MATERIALS: “Fighting inequality for a resilient future.”To mobilize action, the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) is using the occasion to raise awareness of the brutal inequality of disasters and call for fighting inequality for a resilient future. Explore the IDDRR 2023 Poster, postcard, social media toolkit and Get the communications materials!
WHY WE CELEBRATE THE DAY?
HOW TO GET INVOLVED!
PARTNERSHIPS
The International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction was started in 1989, after a call by the United Nations General Assembly for a day to promote a global culture of risk-awareness and disaster reduction. Held every 13 October, the day celebrates how people and communities around the world are reducing their exposure to disasters and raising awareness about the importance of reining in the risks that they face. It is important to consider the social and economic contexts in which disaster risks occur and that people do not necessarily share the same perceptions of risk and their underlying risk factor. The UNDRR works with various partners around the world to reduce disaster risk and build resilient communities. The UNDRR invites you to works with thinkers, practitioners, experts and innovators to investigate the state of risk across the globe: highlighting what’s new, spotting emerging trends, revealing disturbing patterns, examining behaviour, and presenting progress in reducing risk.
To accomplish this, early warning systems must be:
Multi-Hazard: they are designed to detect different hazards that may occur alone, simultaneously, or cascade.
End-to-end: the system covers the entire range, from hazard detection to action, which includes providing understandable and actionable warning messages.
People-centered: this means designing the systems with people in mind, to empower them to act on time and in an appropriate manner to reduce potential harm.
We must break the cycle of disaster > growing inequality > repeat.
We can curb the destructive power of hazards—in other words, stop them from turning into disasters—through careful and coordinated planning that is designed to reduce people’s exposure and vulnerability to harm.
We must accelerate the implementation of the Early Warnings for All initiative to ensure everyone on earth is covered by early warnings in the next four years, prioritizing the most at-risk communities
Greater investments are needed in the collection and use of disaggregated data, both to better understand disproportionate disaster impacts and exposure, and to inform resilience-building plans.
Member States must prioritise their commitments to achieving the Sendai Framework and SDGs, especially the reduction of poverty and inequality, while urgently addressing disaster risk and vulnerability with a focus on the most vulnerable communities
Global decision makers must make our financial system fit for purpose in delivering finance for the most climate-vulnerable countries. We need to deliver economic resilience for the most at risk from disasters
Countries must engage, build capacity and empower groups in all DRR decision making processes. Countries must ensure that the most at risk, including women, older persons and persons with disabilities are meaningfully included.
The International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction is hosted by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, the UNDRR Office in New York, the UNDRR Office in Americas, the UNDRR Office in Asia and Pacific, the UNDRR Office in Africa, the UNDRR Office in Europe, the UNDRR Office in Kobe, Japan, the UNDRR Office in the Arab States, the UNOOSA: United Nations Platform for Space-based Information for Disaster Management and Emergency Response (UN-SPIDER); the UNOCHA: UN Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC), the National Aeronautical and Space Administration (NASA), the NOAA Hurricanes centers. With the participation of Civil Society Organizations, Non-Governmental Organizations, Disaster preparedness centers, Climate researchers and academics.