Commemoration of the ‘International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction 2022’

In the year 2021, a total of 432 disastrous events related to natural hazards happened worldwide with USD 252 billion of reported economic damage and 40% of all disaster events being experienced in Asia, while 44 % of disasters are associated with floods. The International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) started in 1989, after a call by the UN General Assembly (UNGA) for a day to promote a global culture of risk awareness and disaster reduction. In 2009, the UNGA officially designated the 13th of October as the date to commemorate the Day. This is an annual event that urges citizens and governments to work together to make their communities and people informed of the importance of being more disaster-resilient. Moreover, it is an opportunity to highlight the progress made in reducing disaster risk and loss of life, livelihoods, and health. The day celebrates how people and communities around the world are reducing their exposure to disasters and raising awareness about the importance of reining in the risks that they face. The 2022 edition of this international day will focus on the objective: “Substantially increase the availability of and access to multi-hazard early warning systems and disaster risk information and assessments to people by 2030”, which is the seventh and final target of the Sendai Framework.

Key objective:

• Understanding the importance of designing multi-hazard, end-to-end, early warning systems that empower populations to act on time and in an appropriate manner to reduce potential harm.

Cover photo by Freepik