International Day for Disaster Reduction is observed on October 13 each year. Effective management of natural disasters is heavily reliant on governance. Good governance of disaster risk can be measured in terms of lives saved, the number of persons affected by disasters decreased, and economic losses diminished. The climate emergency demonstrates, in addition to the usual risk factors, the need for a competently empowered governance that acts on scientific evidence for the public’s benefit and a well-defined vision and strategy. It is imperative that governments and individuals assume accountability if we are to ensure the preservation of a stable planet for posterity.
The background of International Day for Disaster Reduction
In 1989, International Day for Disaster Reduction was established. In response to a request from the General Assembly of the United Nations for a day devoted to fostering a worldwide culture of disaster prevention and risk awareness, the decision was reached. The International Day for Disaster Reduction recognizes the collaborative efforts of communities and individuals worldwide to mitigate the impact of disasters and increase public consciousness regarding the criticality of prompt response.
The topic of discussion at the Third United Nations World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction, which took place in 2015 in Sendai, Japan, was the extent to which disasters impact local communities the most severely. Consequently, there is a heightened mortality rate and significant societal and economic disruption. Unpredicted catastrophes annually displace millions of individuals. Certain catastrophes are exacerbated by climate change, which frequently disrupts the local ecosystem and reverses sustainable development.
It was determined, with these risk factors in mind, that disaster relief plans must be developed from the ground up. The approach of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction is action-oriented and people-centered. The framework provides solutions to the threat of small-scale and large-scale disasters resulting from natural or man-made hazards with an emphasis on disaster risk reduction. Additionally, environmental, technological, and biological hazards and risks are considered. Ensuring a multisectoral disaster reduction framework that integrates policies from various domains—including but not limited to land use, building codes, public health, education, agriculture, environmental protection, energy, water resources, poverty reduction, and climate change adaptation—is a critical component of effective planning.
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5 essential natural disaster facts that will astound you
Fifteen cases of extreme temperature, 154 floods, and 16 droughts have occurred since 2011.
After wildfires, flooding stands as the most pervasive form of natural catastrophe.
More than half of the individuals who were affected by both Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Sandy were seniors aged 65 and above.
Damages caused by Hurricane Harvey are estimated to have totaled $125 billion.
Approximately 80% of individuals lack a home evacuation exercise, and 60% are unaware of the evacuation routes in their municipality.
INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR DISASTER REDUCTION DATES
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | October 13 | Friday |
| 2024 | October 13 | Sunday |
| 2025 | October 13 | Monday |
| 2026 | October 13 | Tuesday |
| 2027 | October 13 | Wednesday |
