Latest news on Disaster Risk Reduction

This publication provides an overview of the impacts of the El Niño phenomenon on agriculture and food security in 2015-2016. Current consequences at global, regional and country level are highlighted (including data on crop production; livestock production; number of food insecure people) as well as the Food and Agriculture Organization...

The Jakarta Declaration was the main document coming out of the Asia-Pacific Regional meeting regarding the “New Urban Agenda.” Captioned “sustainable urbanization to accelerate development,” the document reflects the growing recognition that urban areas are not “parasitic,” and if guided by appropriate policies, they can hasten sustainable...

Sri Lanka is planning to begin testing its first web-based disaster damage and loss reporting system by the end of the year. The Disaster Management Center (DMC) is developing the programme, which will enlist at least one government official from each district - or a representative of a non-governmental organisations in some cases - who is linked to...

UN Secretary-General's Special Representative for Disaster Risk Reduction, Robert Glasser welcomed the Italian Prime Minister's commitment to build a culture of prevention in the earthquake-prone country as he announced his intention to present a national plan, Casa Italia, to make Italy safer against earthquakes and appoint a Commissioner to oversee...

Kenya is on its way to breaking the devastating cycle of drought, poverty and hunger over the next decade. Kenyan scientist Andrew Mude won the 2016 Norman Borlaug Award for Field Research and Application for developing livestock insurance. Over 16,000 Kenyan households have already benefitted - the scheme pays out when rains fail, rather than waiting...

According to reinsurer, Swiss Re, over 75% of private buildings in Switzerland have no earthquake coverage. As earthquakes are rare and quickly forgotten, Swiss public risk perception is low, even with its well developed insurance culture. A 6.2 magnitude earthquake in central Switzerland could damage 75,000 buildings, affect 500,000 people and cost...

30 August 2016, GENEVA – The UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Disaster Risk Reduction, Mr. Robert Glasser, has written to the Italian Prime Minister, Mr. Matteo Renzi, and expressed his condolences on the tragic loss of life in last week’s earthquake and welcomed the Prime Minister’s commitment to build a culture of prevention in the earthquake-prone…

This study examines the climate change and urban health vulnerability of suburban Pralab, Khon Kaen City, in the northeast of Thailand. One of the principal findings of the paper is that the urbanisation of Khon Kaen has led to profound physical and socio-economic changes in Pralab, leading for instance to...

This working paper details the key recommendations that emerged from the international conference on ‘Mountain People Adapting to Change: Solutions beyond boundaries bridging science, policy, and practice’, held in Kathmandu from 9 to 12 November 2014. The event sought to find holistic approaches to adaptation that extend beyond...

This paper aims to raise awareness about Loss and Damage (L&D) and ignite a conversation about how Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) and Loss & Damage (L&D) can be linked in order to ensure more sustainable strategies for building resilience in Pakistan.The...