International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction

October 13 is International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, a day to celebrate the progress made in reducing vulnerability to natural disasters. This day is dedicated to recognizing the efforts of those who specialize in solving problems to reduce the risks faced by populations in emergency situations. It also serves as a reminder of the need for governments and citizens to work together to improve safety and living conditions.

History

The UN General Assembly has been actively working to raise awareness of the risks associated with natural and man-made disasters since 1990. Since then, the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction has been every year to promote the need to mitigate the negative effects of emergencies and to increase people’s knowledge of how to protect themselves and their families in the event of a disaster.

Interesting facts

On the occasion of this holiday, here are some interesting facts related to natural disasters:

• Qatar has not experienced a single natural disaster since 1900 due to its remoteness from areas prone to such disasters, like Oceania, Southeast Asia, and Central America.
• Switzerland and Ecuador have some of the best disaster risk reduction strategies: Switzerland, for instance, has multimillion-dollar early warning systems for avalanches, landslides, and floods.
• The most powerful earthquake in the world was recorded in southern Chile in 1960.

How to take part

You can show your support for this holiday by sharing it on social media using hashtags such as #OnlyTogether and #DRRday. You can also use these hashtags to find the latest news related to risk reduction in emergencies posted by UNESCO. Alternatively, you can visit the UNESCO Global Geopark or one of the events held by the organization around the world.

When is International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction in 2024?

International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction is observed on October 13 each year.

Observations