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Title	Date	Type
Water, too little or too much – a resource that can improve or destroy life: smarter water management needed to reduce disaster risks On the opening day of the World Water Week taking place in Stockholm, Sweden this week, speakers called for increased investments in disaster-resilient infrastructure and smarter water management to avoid drought, floods and other water-related disasters, particularly in urban areas.	24 Aug 2011	News briefs
Philippines Parliamentarians Call for Mainstreaming DRR, Climate Change Adaptation in National Budget Legislation Sixteen Parliamentarians from the Philippine House of Representatives yesterday adopted "the Incheon Resolution of the Philippine Parliamentarians on Effective Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation" which calls for their mainstreaming in the national budget legislation.	18 Jul 2011	News briefs
ECOSOC 2011 Statement by Margareta Wahlström, Special Representative of the Secretary General for Disaster Risk Reduction Disasters have a proven negative impact on education and the efforts of governments to achieve MDG 2.	7 Jul 2011	Statements & speeches
Future Development Must Be Centred Around Risk: article by United Nations Disaster Risk Reduction Chief Around 20% of the Earth is at risk from at least one natural hazard and more than half the world’s six billion plus population is exposed. In a matter of minutes, at least one hazard can change the world they know. Only through incorporating risk into development planning can we start to reduce this exposure.	6 Jul 2011	Statements & speeches
Local governments come together to build safer communities in Sri Lanka, commit to World Disaster Reduction campaign Colombo, Sri Lanka, 5 July 2011 – Local governments released a joint action plan today to tackle hazard risk in Sri Lanka. The plan identifies key priority activities that follow the 'Ten Essentials' of the World Disaster Reduction Campaign 'Making Cities Resilient: My City is Getting Ready!' in nine provinces in the country.	5 Jul 2011	Press release
Forests are a vital natural resource and ally for reducing disaster risks, says UN special representative over concerns of wildfire risk As Europe and North America move into the summer season, the risk of wildfires will increase. While these natural hazards may not get the attention of earthquakes, tsunamis and cyclones, their destructive potential is considerable and reducing the risks they present should be a priority.	4 Jul 2011	News briefs
Africa urged to speak ‘as one’ to tackle disasters and climate change, as Assembly of the African Union comes to a close in Malabo As the 17th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union wrapped up in Malabo, Guinea, talks of a common voice on sustainable development have continued to dominate agendas in Africa ahead of the United Nations climate talks to be held in Durban in December. The need to address the issue of disasters and climate change continues to at the fore of various platforms of implementing the extended Africa Regional Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction.	30 Jun 2011	News briefs
Anticipating and reducing risk needed as some of the world's most populated countries face severe drought and flooding Over 10 million people from Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia and Uganda will be severely affected by severe drought, with no likelihood of improvement until 2012, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of humanitarian Affairs warned in an alert yesterday.	28 Jun 2011	News briefs
Maldives Government Endorses World’s First Strategic National Action Plan Integrating Disaster Risk Reduction, Climate Change Adaptation The Government of the Maldives has fully endorsed the world’s first Strategic National Action Plan (SNAP) that integrates Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Climate Change Adaptation (CCA).	24 Jun 2011	Press release
Global Champion for Disaster Risk Reduction meets with United Nations to discuss ways to help build community resilience to disasters President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono of Indonesia met with Margareta Wahlström, the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction, on Wednesday to discuss ways to help build the resilience of communities.	16 Jun 2011	News briefs
Equal priority is needed to strengthen policies on disaster response and prevention says European Commissioner Recognizing the political importance and impact of recent disasters, UNISDR and the European Parliament organized a debate "Prevent or react: The EU approach to Disaster Risk Reduction" to discuss the European Union's approach to disaster prevention.	14 Jun 2011	News briefs
Egypt holds the first UNDP-coordinated training on Disaster Risk Reduction in the Arab Region to discuss regional risks trends The first comprehensive training on Disaster Risk Reduction in the Arab region gathered thirty leading specialists to discuss regional and global disaster risk trends. Organized by the UNDP Regional Centre for Arab States, it provided valuable insight on disaster risk assessment, mitigation and preparedness.	9 Jun 2011	News briefs
Chair's Summary sees disaster risk reduction as key to preserving and protecting environment and ensuring sustainable development Half of humanity is now living in cities - commitment to resilience is urgently needed, said Ms. Asha-Rose Migiro, the United Nations Deputy Secretary-General and Chair of the Third Session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction in her final summary.	3 Jun 2011	News briefs
Calls for 'coalition of action' to address link between natural hazards and nuclear safety at Global Platform for DRR ending today In a year marred by disaster losses over US$300 billion, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called, at the Third Session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction, for a “coalition of action” and a high-level meeting during the next General Assembly to address the link between natural hazards and nuclear safety.	13 May 2011	Press release
President Ivanov of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia calls for a joint global response to growing disaster-related losses The world is at defining moment in its history, where risks from climate change and growing disaster-related losses require a joint global response, said President Gjorge Ivanov of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, who addressed delegates yesterday during the opening ceremony of the Global Platform.	11 May 2011	News briefs
Panel at World Reconstruction Conference calls for stronger framework to coordinate disaster activities Sri Mulyani Indrawati, World Bank Managing Director, yesterday called for a stronger framework to coordinate disaster activities with greater transparency, at a high-level policy panel on “responding to natural disasters: a long-ignored development challenge.”	11 May 2011	News briefs
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to open the latest session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction The Global Platform will be opened today by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who will also launch a report entitled 2011 Global Assessment Report on Disaster Risk Reduction – Revealing risks, redefining development. Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro will chair the forum in Geneva.	10 May 2011	News briefs
Economic Disaster Losses Increasing, Threatening All Regions, Rich and Poor Countries, Warns New United Nations Report Disaster-related economic losses are increasing across all regions, critically threatening the economies of low-income countries and even outstripping wealth creation across many of the world’s richer nations, says a United Nations report titled Revealing Risk, Redefining Development to be launched today by the United Nations' Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon at the Third Session of the Global Platform on Disaster Risk Reduction.	10 May 2011	Press release
UN Secretary-General announces a discussion on nuclear energy in September The international community must “risk proof” development because disasters are taking a heavy toll on rich and poor countries as well as outpacing their ability to respond, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told delegates today, at the foremost gathering of stakeholders on reducing disaster risk which opened this afternoon in Geneva and will run until Friday, 13 May.	10 May 2011	Press release
Two days until the official opening of the Third Session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction The final touches are being added to the Third Session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction, which will take place in Geneva, Switzerland from 8-13 May. The Global Platform will be opened officially by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on May 10.	8 May 2011	News briefs
Disaster risk reduction on the agenda of 124th Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly As part of the 124th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly, a meeting was organized on the importance of disaster risk reduction and building sustainable development. Held from 15 to 20 of April in Panama City, the panel was moderated by Maureen Ballestero Vargas, former Vice-President of the Legislative Assembly of Costa Rica.	20 Apr 2011	News briefs
Four African cities commit to urban resilience Four cities - Addis Ababa, Kampala, Narok and Yaoundé - joined the Making Cities Resilience campaign after their mayors took part in a debate on city resilience on Tuesday, 29 March, moderated by top Kenyan journalist Yvonne Okwara. Panellists pointed to poor planning, corruption, and “negative attitudes” as elements that could erode city resilience.	4 Apr 2011	News briefs
African Working Group agrees to implement the Strategy for disaster risk reduction The inaugural meeting of the reconstituted African Working Group on Disaster Risk Reduction (AWGDRR) ended on Thursday, 31 March, with delegates agreeing to accelerate the implementation of the extended programme of action for the implementation of the Africa Regional Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction (2006-2015), in line with the Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA).The meeting took place after the Executive Council of the African Union had endorsed the Report of the Second African Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in April 2010, where it also endorsed the extended programme of action.	31 Mar 2011	News briefs
In times of dwindling resources, disaster risk reduction is an easy win A new report from the United Nations confirms what governments already hear but are slow to believe: that disciplined public sector involvement in “disaster risk reduction” can significantly reduce setbacks brought by hundreds of droughts, earthquakes, wildfires, hurricanes and other hazards that befall the world each year, on average.	9 Mar 2011	Press release
To build the resilience of nations and communities to disasters, we need equal and active participation of men and women in disaster risk reduction. Disasters affect men and women differently, and so we will continue to lobby for gender-sensitive vulnerability, risk and capacity assessments. Studies show that women’s vulnerabilities during and after disasters is linked to their role and status in society, making women and children 14 times more likely to die than men during a disaster.	8 Mar 2011	News briefs
Viet Nam’s five largest cities give disaster risk reduction a boost, as entire nation solidifies disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation agenda The five largest cities and most important economic centers of Viet Nam pledged to make cities safer against disasters at the second National Forum on Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai today. The Forum set a firm plan to establish the National Platform and launched the World Disaster Reduction Campaign “Making Cities Resilient- My City is Getting Ready.”	4 Mar 2011	Press release
Reducing vulnerability to natural hazards must become top international priority says General Assembly President Addressing journalists at the Palais des Nations on 28 February, General Assembly President Joseph Deiss said that reducing vulnerability to natural hazards must be a top priority of the international community. “Reducing disaster risks is essential if we are to consolidate progress made in development and poverty reduction,” he said, briefing correspondents on the outcome of the General Assembly Thematic Debate on disaster risk reduction, held on 9 February at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.	28 Feb 2011	News briefs
Malaysia commits to maintain safety of cities, schools and hospitals in lead-up to 2011 Global Platform on Disaster Risk Reduction Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Melaka were named Role Model Cities as part of the United Nations-led “Making Resilient Cities” campaign, which was launched during Malaysia’s National Disaster Awareness Day celebrations from 18 to 19 February. These three major Malaysian cities were chosen for their ability to meet and inspire others around the world to take up ten essential actions that reduce disaster risk.	19 Feb 2011	Press release
Arab region takes steps to reduce disaster risk, endorses Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction Heads of States welcomed and endorsed the "Arab Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction 2020" in recognition of the increasing risk and frequency of disasters that challenge the development process in the region during the 2nd Summit for Socio Economic Development of the Council of Arab Ministers Responsible for the Environment (CAMRE) held in Egypt in January 2011.	11 Feb 2011	Press release
AU Executive Council endorses report of the 2nd African Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction The African Union (AU) Executive Council has endorsed the report of the second African Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR). This was done at the 16th African Union Summit, held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from 25-31 January. The report includes the extended Programme of Action for the implementation of the Africa Strategy for DRR (2006-2015) and the recommendations of the second African Ministerial Declaration on DRR held in Nairobi in April 2010.	11 Feb 2011	Press release

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News Archive

Water, too little or too much – a resource that can improve or destroy life: smarter water management needed to reduce disaster risks

Philippines Parliamentarians Call for Mainstreaming DRR, Climate Change Adaptation in National Budget Legislation

ECOSOC 2011 Statement by Margareta Wahlström, Special Representative of the Secretary General for Disaster Risk Reduction

Future Development Must Be Centred Around Risk: article by United Nations Disaster Risk Reduction Chief

Local governments come together to build safer communities in Sri Lanka, commit to World Disaster Reduction campaign

Forests are a vital natural resource and ally for reducing disaster risks, says UN special representative over concerns of wildfire risk

Africa urged to speak ‘as one’ to tackle disasters and climate change, as Assembly of the African Union comes to a close in Malabo

Anticipating and reducing risk needed as some of the world's most populated countries face severe drought and flooding

Maldives Government Endorses World’s First Strategic National Action Plan Integrating Disaster Risk Reduction, Climate Change Adaptation

Global Champion for Disaster Risk Reduction meets with United Nations to discuss ways to help build community resilience to disasters

Equal priority is needed to strengthen policies on disaster response and prevention says European Commissioner

Egypt holds the first UNDP-coordinated training on Disaster Risk Reduction in the Arab Region to discuss regional risks trends

Chair's Summary sees disaster risk reduction as key to preserving and protecting environment and ensuring sustainable development

Calls for 'coalition of action' to address link between natural hazards and nuclear safety at Global Platform for DRR ending today

President Ivanov of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia calls for a joint global response to growing disaster-related losses

Panel at World Reconstruction Conference calls for stronger framework to coordinate disaster activities

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to open the latest session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction

Economic Disaster Losses Increasing, Threatening All Regions, Rich and Poor Countries, Warns New United Nations Report

UN Secretary-General announces a discussion on nuclear energy in September

Two days until the official opening of the Third Session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction

Disaster risk reduction on the agenda of 124th Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly

Four African cities commit to urban resilience

African Working Group agrees to implement the Strategy for disaster risk reduction

In times of dwindling resources, disaster risk reduction is an easy win

To build the resilience of nations and communities to disasters, we need equal and active participation of men and women in disaster risk reduction.

Viet Nam’s five largest cities give disaster risk reduction a boost, as entire nation solidifies disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation agenda

Reducing vulnerability to natural hazards must become top international priority says General Assembly President

Malaysia commits to maintain safety of cities, schools and hospitals in lead-up to 2011 Global Platform on Disaster Risk Reduction

Arab region takes steps to reduce disaster risk, endorses Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction

AU Executive Council endorses report of the 2nd African Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction

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