UNDRR News

Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain, May 31 - June 4, 2010 Volcanic risks are of great urban concern, as many settlements are situated on volcano flanks or in historic paths of mud and lava flows. COV6-Tenerife is an international forum where experts will discuss ways to improve volcanic risk management in densely populated volcanic regions. Henri Gaudru, President of the European Volcanologist Society, will present the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction as well as the 2010-11 World Disaster Reduction Campaign “Making Cities Resilient: My City is Getting Ready” at the meeting.

With more than half the world’s population living in urban areas, cities are particularly vulnerable to the risks of natural hazards, such as earthquakes, drought and floods. To strengthen a city’s readiness to reduce disaster impacts, the UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction is launching this Sunday, 30 May 2010 in Bonn, Germany, a new campaign to raise awareness and boost commitment for sustainable development practices that will increase a city’s well-being and safety.

The UN Secretary-General’s report 'Keeping the Promise' presents progress made with regard to the Millennium Development Goals through a comprehensive review of successes, best practices and lessons learnt, obstacles and gaps, challenges and opportunities, leading to concrete strategies for action. The report stresses that reducing disaster risks is vital for the achievement of MDGs. It has been issued in all the six UN languages. > View full story

Side Event “Will your health services function in disasters? Experiences from recent earthquakes” 19 May 2010, 17h30 -19h00, Palais des Nations - Salle VII Ministries of Health and Governments face intense scrutiny from national and international actors on their performance in disasters and face mounting expectations for quick, decisive and appropriate action. During this side event of the 63rd World Health Assembly, Ministers of Health will share country experiences in dealing with the health impact of recent earthquakes. Participants will also share knowledge of how communities, countries and the international community can improve health outcomes and protect health services in disasters by improving the safety of health facilities through risk reduction and strengthening of health systems. Margareta Wahlström, UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction will give the closing remarks. > View programme

The extended Africa Programme of Action for the Implementation of the Africa Regional Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction was adopted by African ministers. The ministers were among more than 250 participants from 42 African countries who gathered at the Second Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction that took place from 14 to 16 April 2010 at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre in Nairobi, Kenya in parallel to the First Ministerial Conference of Ministers Responsible for Meteorology in Africa . The ministers also adopted the Declaration of the Second Africa Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction. > View full story

Although air travel in Europe is starting to resume after ash from Iceland’s Eyjafjallajökull volcano grounded flights for almost a week, thousands of travellers continue to be affected and more delays possible with the threat of further eruptions. “We only realize how disruptive hazards can be when they have already happened,” Margareta Wahlström, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Disaster Risk Reduction, said Thursday. “The volcano eruption is an example of a rare but largely disruptive event that exposes our key infrastructure vulnerability.”

The extended Africa Programme of Action for the Implementation of the Africa Regional Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction was adopted by African ministers. The ministers were among more than 280 participants from 42 African countries who gathered at the Second Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction that took place from 14 to 16 April 2010 at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre in Nairobi, Kenya in parallel to the First Ministerial Conference of Ministers Responsible for Meteorology in Africa . The ministers also adopted the Declaration of the Second Africa Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction. > View full story

These good practices show how building the capacity of local institutions is key to sustaining disaster risk reduction, and demonstrate the immediate impact of local and national political commitments that institutionalise disaster risk reduction. Collaboration between local and national governments, civil society organizations and international agencies is another notable strength of the initiatives showcased in this publication.

In addition to providing proper visibility to the activities and to the outputs of the Programme, the PPRD South web portal is designed to serve as a multi-lingual interactive tool on civil protection cooperation between Europe and the Mediterranean and Balkan region....

More than 170 delegates from 42 African countries, including 19 Ministers, will gather at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre in Nairobi, from 14-16 April, at the second Africa Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction to discuss a Programme of Action that will reduce disaster risk in Africa.