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Public debate on city resilience a success in Shanghai Over 200 people attended a public debate on what makes a city resilient against disaster, in Shanghai, China, moderated by top Chinese anchorman Bai Yan Song of CCTV. Mr. Bai posed questions to both the panelists and the public, challenging them to think about creative solutions to reduce disaster risk. > View full story	15 Oct 2010	News briefs
2010 International Day for Disaster Reduction This year's theme: My City is Getting Ready! To mark the International Day for Disaster Reduction, the UNISDR secretariat is calling on its partners to play a more active role to protect cities against disasters. Many cities have been disrupted this year by disasters: earthquakes in Haiti, Chile and New Zealand; floods and heavy rainfalls in Pakistan, Eastern Europe, Mozambique and other parts of Africa; forest fires in Russia; and volcanic eruptions in Indonesia and Iceland. All have caused huge human suffering and economic damage. Cities have never been so at risk.	12 Oct 2010	Press release
Indonesia strengthens bid to make schools and hospitals safer Over 13,000 schools and hospitals have joined the “One Million Safe Schools and Hospitals Campaign” since its national launch in Indonesia on July 29, quadrupling in the space of one week from 3,156 schools to 13,500. The number of hospitals that joined rose from 105 to 133. With the support of the local communication and information authority in Ciwidey, West Java Province, organizers set up computers where participants made online pledges.	24 Aug 2010	Press release
Finland launches National Platform UNISDR Europe is pleased to announce that the Republic of Finland has launched its National Platform (NP) for Disaster Risk Reduction under the coordination of the Department for Rescue Services of the Ministry of Interior. We would like to congratulate Finland on advancing its disaster risk reduction agenda.	4 Aug 2010	News briefs
European Forum for Disaster Risk Reduction holds session at IDRC Davos 2010 The European Forum for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) organized a special event on European National Platforms in collaboration with UNISDR Europe, the Council of Europe European and Mediterranean Major Hazards Agreement (EUR-OPA), the European Commission and UNESCO. The goal was to discuss experiences from European National Platforms (NPs). These need to be built on national and local conditions, cultures, and structures, should reflect the needs of their constituencies and can serve as laboratories of ideas to promote innovation for DRR initiatives. The event introduced the newly established European Forum for Disaster Risk Reduction, which brings together National Platforms, Hyogo Framework for Action Focal Points and regional organizations to jointly reduce vulnerabilities in Europe.	4 Aug 2010	News briefs
Shanghai Expo 2010 to hold forum on disaster risk reduction A “Forum on Disaster Risk Reduction” will be hosted by DEVNET in collaboration with UNISDR, UN-Habitat and ICLEI in the context of the Shanghai Expo 2010 "Better City, Better Life." The forum will be held at the Everbright Convention & Exhibition Center in Shanghai from 28-30 July 2010.	9 Jul 2010	News briefs
Mayors from around the world declare commitment to making cities resilient to climate change Mayors from 22 cities in 19 countries gathered in Bonn, Germany to launch the Mayors Adaptation Forum - the first annual platform of the World Mayors Council on Climate Change to help local leaders with advocacy and local adaptation practices. The Bonn Declaration of the Mayors Adaptation Forum commits to the implementation and monitoring of the Making Cities Resilient campaign, and urges the international climate community to recognize the increased leadership of local governments in climate change mitigation and adaptation.	7 Jul 2010	News briefs
City leaders join UN Making Cities Resilient campaign Local governments are showing their commitment to protect cities and citizens from natural hazards by signing up to a new global disaster risk reduction campaign. Davos (Switzerland), Port-au-Prince (Haiti), Santa Tecla (El Salvador) and Baofeng (China) are the latest to join the UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction’s Making Cities Resilient: My City is Getting Ready campaign, which is aimed at guiding to process to put in place much-needed disaster reduction plans. On 30 May, leaders from eight took part in the UNISDR’s official campaign launch at the First World Congress on Cities and Adaptation to Climate Change in Bonn.	1 Jun 2010	Press release
My City is Getting Ready, Is yours? UNISDR launches 2010-11 World Disaster Reduction Campaign With more than half the world’s population living in urban areas, cities are particularly vulnerable to the risks of natural hazards, such as earthquakes, drought and floods. To strengthen a city’s readiness to reduce disaster impacts, the UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction is launching this Sunday, 30 May 2010 in Bonn, Germany, a new campaign to raise awareness and boost commitment for sustainable development practices that will increase a city’s well-being and safety.	27 May 2010	Press release
DRR at the World Health Assembly Side Event “Will your health services function in disasters? Experiences from recent earthquakes” 19 May 2010, 17h30 -19h00, Palais des Nations - Salle VII Ministries of Health and Governments face intense scrutiny from national and international actors on their performance in disasters and face mounting expectations for quick, decisive and appropriate action. During this side event of the 63rd World Health Assembly, Ministers of Health will share country experiences in dealing with the health impact of recent earthquakes. Participants will also share knowledge of how communities, countries and the international community can improve health outcomes and protect health services in disasters by improving the safety of health facilities through risk reduction and strengthening of health systems. Margareta Wahlström, UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction will give the closing remarks. > View programme	19 May 2010	News briefs
Publication "Local Governments and Disaster Risk Reduction: Good practices and lessons learned" now available These good practices show how building the capacity of local institutions is key to sustaining disaster risk reduction, and demonstrate the immediate impact of local and national political commitments that institutionalise disaster risk reduction. Collaboration between local and national governments, civil society organizations and international agencies is another notable strength of the initiatives showcased in this publication.	19 Apr 2010	News briefs
Mediterranean: Launch of PPRD South web portal In addition to providing proper visibility to the activities and to the outputs of the Programme, the PPRD South web portal is designed to serve as a multi-lingual interactive tool on civil protection cooperation between Europe and the Mediterranean and Balkan region....	14 Apr 2010	News briefs
Help shape the 2010-2011 world disaster reduction campaign Know more – Invest wisely – Build more safely! Cities and local governments need to get ready and become resilient to disasters. For the next two years and beyond, the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR) will campaign together with its partners for this to happen. Get involved, reduce risk, get your city ready! > Find out more about the 'Making Cities Resilient' Campaign	11 Mar 2010	News briefs
External Evaluation of the UNISDR and Management Response UNISDR is pleased to share its Management Response to the second external evaluation of the secretariat. The Management Response sets out the process and main activities to implement recommendations arising from the evaluation carried out by Dalberg Global Development Advisers. Initiated by the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction and major UNISDR donors, the evaluation’s purpose was to assess the secretariat’s performance over the last four years and to provide guidance for UNISDR's future direction. The independent report presents 42 recommendations based on 25 findings, which are summarized in five key messages included in the executive summary. > View executive summary > View full report > View management response	11 Feb 2010	News briefs
UN Development Group to seize the opportunity to build back better in Haiti At the Montreal Ministerial Preparatory Conference on Haiti held on 25 January, Helen Clark, the Administrator of UNDP and Chair of the UN Development Group, called for the integration of disaster prevention concerns and capacity into the recovery and reconstruction process. UNISDR is actively collaborating with UNDP and all other ISDR system partners to ensure that risk reduction is made an integral component of the international recovery and reconstruction efforts. > View full statement by Helen Clark	28 Jan 2010	News briefs
BBC World News to broadcast ‘Tsunami Revisited’ ‘Tsunami Revisited’ is a documentary on the EC funded project 'Building Resilience to Tsunamis in the Indian Ocean Region in response to the devastating tsunami in the Indian Ocean on 26 December 2004. UNISDR was appointed to manage the project by coordinating, supervising and monitoring the actions of a number of partner organisations in four target countries: India, Indonesia, the Maldives and Sri Lanka. The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) will air the programme at the following times: BBC World News broadcast - Sat 26/12/09 00:30 / 03:30 / 09:30 / 22:30 GMT - Sun 27/12/09 12:30 GMT	23 Dec 2009	News briefs
UNISDR secretariat has launched its new Biennial Work Programme for 2010-2011 "Invest today for a safer tomorrow The UNISDR secretariat Biennial Work Programme was developed following the second session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction in June 2009. It is based on the role and mandate of UNISDR as set by the UN General Assembly. The strategic direction for the 2010-2011 biennium is derived from the outcomes of the Global Platform and from regional consultations. The current programme has been further shaped through broad consultation with the ISDR Support Group in Geneva, donors, the ISDR Inter-Agency Group and other partners. View full story Related links UNISDR secretariat Biennial Work Programme: 2010-2011	20 Nov 2009	News briefs
UNISDR Terminology on Disaster Risk Reduction launched in three East Asian languages	3 Nov 2009	News briefs
International Day for Disaster Reduction: new initiatives launched in London The global event of the 2009 International Day for Disaster Reduction was staged at the Royal Marsden Hospital, which was severely damaged by a fire in early 2008. The meeting gathered more than 120 participants from all stakeholder groups and was hosted by the UK Health Protection Agency in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR). View full story Related links 2009 International Day for Disaster Reduction Programme of global event in London incl. slides of presentations Video recording of the London event Opening Remarks by Sir John Holmes, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator (delivered by Helena Molin Valdés, Deputy Director UNISDR)	16 Oct 2009	News briefs
2009 International Day for Disaster Reduction - 14 October	12 Oct 2009	News briefs
World Humanitarian Day	19 Aug 2009	News briefs
UNISDR side event at ECOSOC 2009 - Briefing on the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction 17 July 2009, Palais des Nations 1.15-2.45 pm Room XXII The side event will brief on the outcomes of the Second Session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction in June 2009. It will build on the Chair’s Summary of the Global Platform and highlight the lessons, findings and recommendations from global and regional reports and the conclusions from the five high-level panels, each of which is being represented by the Panelists. > More information	17 Jul 2009	News briefs
G8 Summit ‘promises much’ on Disaster Risk Reduction Leaders of the world’s eight main industrialized countries gathering for a G8 Summit meeting later this week are being urged to apply their ‘considerable influence, resources and political will’ to advance five major action points on disaster risk reduction (DRR).	7 Jul 2009	Press release
BBC World Debate ‘Prevent or React’	1 Jul 2009	News briefs
Chair’s Summary of the Second Session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction	25 Jun 2009	News briefs
Risk reduction conference ends with call to halve disaster related deaths by 2015 The Global Platform ended today with participants from more than 300 regional/national organizations and governments urging political leaders to implement measures to halve the number of deaths from natural hazards by 2015. > View full story	19 Jun 2009	News briefs
Governments ‘must invest today for safer tomorrow' – the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction opens in Geneva The Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction opens in Geneva Leaders and representatives from some 165 Governments gathering here today for the 2009 Global Platform on Disaster Reduction will be urged to ‘invest today for a safer tomorrow’ – or face much harder decisions in the years to come.	16 Jun 2009	News briefs
Indonesian scientist Eko Teguh Paripurno wins 2009 UN Sasakawa Award The 2009 laureate for the Sasakawa Award for Disaster Reduction is geologist Dr Eko Teguh Paripurno. He receives the award - valued at US$ 50,000 - for his lifetime contribution and his outstanding commitment to reduce disaster risk and building capacity at the community level in Indonesia, one of the countries most vulnerable to multiple hazards.	16 Jun 2009	Press release
Where are the safest places on earth from sudden onset hazard?	15 Jun 2009	News briefs
Global Platform: Special events to highlight projects and achievements	9 Jun 2009	News briefs