International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction
On 13th October, every year, the United Nations celebrates the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction. This day is observed annually with the aim to publicize how different communities and people across the globe are reducing their exposure to various types of disasters. Hence, this day is also known as the World Disaster Control Day.
Highlights
The International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction began in the year 1989 after the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) decided to promote a day regarding global culture of disaster risk reduction and risk awareness.
In the year 2015, in Sendai, Japan the Third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction was held. This conference reminded that locally people are the worst affected and have the potential to lose lives along with major economic and social disruption. Various disasters displace millions of people annually. Disasters, aggravated by climate change, negatively impact desired outcomes and investment for sustainable development. Hence, at the local level various capabilities should be done to mitigate the disasters and thus the Sendai Framework was adopted.
Sendai framework
The 38 indicators and seven strategic objectives were established to measure progress in reducing damage caused by disasters.
Every year starting in 2016 a goal was to be achieved. The goals targeted were as follows:
Target 1 (2016): To lessen international catastrophe mortality by the year 2030. The purpose is to lessen the worldwide mortality rate in the year 2020-30 in comparison to the year 2005-15.
Target 2 (2017): Reduce the number of people who are affected worldwide.
Target 3 (2018): Reduce the economic losses in GDP related terms from disasters.
Target 4 (2019): Reduce disaster-related disruption to basic services.
Target 5 (2020): By the year 2020 national disaster risk reduction strategies should be increased in a number of countries.
Target 6 (2021): Improve international cooperation through adequate as well as sustainable support.
Target 7 (2022): Increase availability of alert systems and multi-hazard assessment.
