UNDRR News

The Secretary-General's Special Representative for Disaster Risk Reduction's message on World Tsunami Awareness Day

International collaboration must be made stronger to make communities resilient to tsunamis

UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction Mami Mizutori has proposed the idea of a “net resilience gain” to match the “net zero” approach to greenhouse gas emissions.

On World Tsunami Awareness Day, we call on countries, international bodies, and civil society to increase understanding about the threat and share innovative approaches to reduce risks.

The 7th Regional Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction in the Americas and the Caribbean has been a breath of fresh air on the path to building a region that is ready to reduce risk and to avoid the creation of new risk. After four days of enriching conversations and discussions, I am convinced that the region is in good hands. Jamaica, as the first Caribbean host of this gathering, has led the way to ensure the full participation of the region despite the limitations imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Some 30 countries from the Americas and the Caribbean ended a key conference on disaster risk – which drew a record attendance – with a pledge to step up action to prevent and better manage disasters.

Ministers and senior officials from the Americas and the Caribbean pledged to make their countries more resistant to hazards, such as earthquakes, hurricanes or pandemics, and renewed their vow to achieve the goals of the Sendai Framework.

The Covid pandemic underlines why effective action on disaster prevention and management must embrace all sectors of society and involve national and international actors, a conference on risk reduction in the Americas and the Caribbean was told.

The 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami spurred a movement to develop female community leaders in Japan.

The Americas & the Caribbean have produced some outstanding examples of how strong disaster governance, executed with vision, competence, trust and transparency, can prevent unnecessary loss of life. Furthermore, it is a region that over the last 40 years has actively contributed to the development of the disaster risk reduction conceptual and evidence-based knowledge that shaped important global agreements including the Sendai Framework. The multi-sectorial representation around this table is a reason for hope.