The International Day for Disaster Reduction is organized every year on October 13th to celebrate and raise awareness about what we can all do to reduce our risk to disasters from earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, tornados, etc...

An estimated 100 million young people, including children, are affected every year by disasters...
Last year young people died in record numbers because of the Haiti earthquake which claimed 316,000 lives according to the Haitian government - Source
Disaster Risk Reduction and Children's Rights...
Under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, children have inalienable rights in all circumstances - including disasters - and the right to participate in decisions that ultimately affect them.
Today's change makers...
UNICEF, Plan International, World Vision and Save the Children (together as 'Children in a Changing Climate'), the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, OXFAM, and others, believe it is essential to include the unique perspectives of children and young people in disaster risk reduction (DRR).
Sustainable behaviors for the future...
When children learn and practice DRR from a young age, behaviour change becomes embedded in their lives at such an early stage that it will be passed on to subsequent generations when they become adults. -- Enabling Child Centred Agency in Disaster Risk Reduction, GAR11
Children are one of the most traumatized by disasters...
As more and more people suffer from earthquakes, cyclones, floods, and other natural hazards, children are most affected because they have difficulties in coping with unexpected and painful interruptions to their lives.
Valuable resources for effective risk management...

Repeatedly portrayed as victims of disaster and climate change, children and young people can and should be encouraged to participate in disaster reduction and decision making. -- Children on the Frontline, Children and Young People in Disaster Risk Reduction

Download the UN Secretary-General's Statement:

Other Statements and Messages

Events from around the world!

Amadora, Portugal O Dia Internacional para a Redução dos Desastres Naturais, instituído pela Assembleia Geral das Nações Unidas, tem como principal objetivo uma reflexão sobre a problemática dos desastres naturais, tendo em conta as fases de prevenção, socorro e reabilitação. Details →	India Numerous activities took place in India. Here are their "Step Up" stories! Download →	Mandera, Kenya Save the Children in collaboration with district partners is holding a District Child-lead Disaster Risk Reduction Commemoration at Borehole 11 Primary School, Mandera Central. Details →
San Salvador, El Salvador The first medal of honour for DRR work will be handed out by the Department for Civil Protection. Theatre presentations, a live game of Riskland, and an exhibition of DRR projects will follow with stands from government organizations and NGOs. Details in Spanish →	Viet Nam IDDR in Viet Nam will be organised in collaboration with Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (Department of Dike Management and Flood Control (DDMFC), the Youth Pioneer Council and school children in Viet Nam. Details →	Suva, Fiji A joint initiative of the United Nations, SPC/SOPAC, the Commonwealth Local Government Forum (CLGF), Pacific Conference of Churches and other regional and national stakeholders and partners who are working in the fields of disaster risk reduction, climate change, children and youth in the Pacific. Details →

For a full list and to submit your IDDR11 event, click here!

An estimated 100 million young people, including children, are affected every year by disasters...

Last year young people died in record numbers because of the Haiti earthquake which claimed 316,000 lives according to the Haitian government - Source

Disaster Risk Reduction and Children's Rights...

Under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, children have inalienable rights in all circumstances - including disasters - and the right to participate in decisions that ultimately affect them.

Today's change makers...

UNICEF, Plan International, World Vision and Save the Children (together as 'Children in a Changing Climate'), the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, OXFAM, and others, believe it is essential to include the unique perspectives of children and young people in disaster risk reduction (DRR).

Sustainable behaviors for the future...

When children learn and practice DRR from a young age, behaviour change becomes embedded in their lives at such an early stage that it will be passed on to subsequent generations when they become adults. -- Enabling Child Centred Agency in Disaster Risk Reduction, GAR11

Children are one of the most traumatized by disasters...

As more and more people suffer from earthquakes, cyclones, floods, and other natural hazards, children are most affected because they have difficulties in coping with unexpected and painful interruptions to their lives.

Valuable resources for effective risk management...

Repeatedly portrayed as victims of disaster and climate change, children and young people can and should be encouraged to participate in disaster reduction and decision making. -- Children on the Frontline, Children and Young People in Disaster Risk Reduction

Other Statements and Messages

Events from around the world!