UNDRR News

Over 120 governments meet today in Geneva to launch the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction, a gathering that is expected to become the major international consultative forum on disaster reduction. Chaired by Mr. John Holmes, the United Nations

A summary of the work of the UNISDR in its mandated areas, covering the period January 2006-June 2007.

Ever increasing numbers of natural hazards (particularly as a result of earthquakes and floods) occur in the Middle Eastern and North African countries. More than 26,000 people were killed in 2003 in the Bam earthquake in Iran and another 2,200 died in

“The world must act urgently to cut the risk from extreme weather events linked with climate change”, Salvano Briceño, Director of the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction secretariat, said this morning on the publication of the

“What is currently happening in Madagascar is a good illustration of what can happen in many countries. Madagascar is suffering from the worst cyclone season this year with more than 6 cyclones since December and a total of more than 60 people dead and

As part of its current campaign on education called “Disaster risk reduction starts at school”, the secretariat of the UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction is launching today an on-line game aimed at teaching children how to build safer

Following the recent report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the secretariat of the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction urges Governments to accelerate the implementation of the Hyogo Framework for Action to

If Asia is still the continent most hit by disasters triggered by natural hazards, three european countries: Netherlands, Belgium and Ukraine rank among the top ten countries most affected by deadly disasters, according to the figures released today by

The 31th Summit of ECOWAS Heads of States held on 19 January 2007 in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, adopted the ECOWAS Policy and Mechanisms for Disaster Risk Reduction. At the request of the ECOWAS Secretariat, UN/ISDR Africa provided its support in the development of the Policy framework, whose implementation would focus on areas of importance to the West African situation under the guidance of the Africa Union Strategy for disaster risk reduction and the Hyogo Framework for Action.

Last week in Nairobi, government representatives and experts agreed on a five-year programme to establish how best to adapt to climate changes. A key element will be to explore the use of disaster reduction methods to cope with extreme conditions like