'Let us renew our dedication to this vital task'
By resolution 44/236 (22 December 1989), the UN General Assembly
designated the second Wednesday of October International Day for Natural
Disaster Reduction. The International Day was to be observed annually
during the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction,
1990-1999.
In 2001, the General Assembly decided to maintain the observance of
the International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction on the second
Wednesday of October (resolution 56/195 of 21 December), as a vehicle to
promote a global culture of natural disaster reduction, including
disaster prevention, mitigation and preparedness.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon in a statement said: "Nearly four
years ago, Governments adopted the Hyogo Framework for Action, which
aims to reduce our collective vulnerability to natural hazards. But we
must do more to turn commitments on paper into deeds that can keep the
next major disaster from taking so many lives and destroying so many
livelihoods. Now more than ever, when we are trying to accelerate
national and international efforts to achieve the Millennium Development
Goals, disaster risk reduction needs to be acknowledged and incorporated
as a key plank of that work. The threats posed by climate change -
including increasing droughts, floods and storms - increases the urgency
further still, particularly in the world's poorest, most vulnerable
communities.
"The World Disaster Reduction Campaign for 2008-2009 focuses on
making 'Hospitals Safe from Disasters'. When health facilities are
damaged, so, too, is our ability to improve maternal and child health
and to provide other essential health services. But in resilient
communities, health systems are better able to withstand natural
hazards. We need to mobilize society at every level to reduce risk and
protect health facilities so that they can save lives.
"I urge all partners - Governments, civil society, international
financial institutions and the private sector - to step up
implementation of the Hyogo Framework. Disaster risk reduction is
everybody's business. Only by investing in tangible risk reduction
measures can we reduce vulnerability and protect development. On this
International Day, let us renew our dedication to this vital task".
(Courtesy United Nations websites www.un.org and www.unisdr.org)
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