Special session on tsunami risk in observation of the World Tsunami Awareness Day

Tsunamis are rare events but they affect a lot of people when they happen in particular communities living in coastal areas, having devastating impacts on housing, infrastructure and livelihoods. Over 11 million have been affected by tsunamis this century.

This year and for its second edition, the 2017 World Tsunami Awareness Day will align with the theme of the International Day for Disaster Reduction and focus on Target (b) of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction which aims at reducing the number of people affected globally by disasters.

To mark the Day, UNISDR and the Permanent Mission of Japan are organizing a High-Level panel discussion on 27 October with eminent speakers from Japan, the Maldives, Indonesia, Chile and Switzerland who will share lessons learned from past events and concrete steps taken at national level to reduce tsunami risks.