International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction
2680482
224598682
2008-07-09T16:21:11Z
201.226.222.22
/* ISDR Regional Unit for the Americas */
The [[United Nations General Assembly|General Assembly]] of the [[United Nations]] (UN) declared the 1990’s as the '''IDNDR (International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction)'''. Its basic objective was to decrease the loss of life, property destruction and social and economic disruption caused by [[natural disaster]]s, such as [[earthquake]]s, [[tsunami]]s, [[flood]]s, [[landslide]]s, [[volcanic eruption]]s, [[drought]]s, [[locust]] infestations, and other disasters of ''natural origin''.
While the IDNDR followed a strictly techno-centric and scientific approach in the beginning, the [[Yokohama]] conference in 1994 put socio-economic aspects as component of effective [[emergency management#mitigation|disaster prevention]] into perspective. It was recognised that social factors, such as cultural tradition, religious values, economic standing, and trust in political accountability are essential in the determination of societal vulnerability. In order to reduce societal vulnerability, and therewith decrease the consequences of natural disasters, these factors need to be addressed. The ability to address socio-economic factors requires knowledge and understanding of local conditions, which can – in most cases - only be provided by local actors. A global strategy aiming at reducing the impacts of natural hazards therefore must include the development of national and sub-national mechanisms for disaster risk reduction. Within this context the IDNDR called on the UN-[[member state]]s to establish National Platforms which would facilitate the adjustment of general disaster [[risk assessment|risk reduction]] objectives to national/local conditions, implement the agreed policies and expand the understanding and perception of the importance of disaster risk reduction on national levels.
However, while some countries successfully established national networks many did not. In practice, there remains a pressing need to revitalize and strengthen these national structures.
=='''International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR)'''==
When it drew to an end, the IDNDR was replaced and continued by the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR) [http://www.unisdr.org/]. The ISDR aims to pursue the initiatives and cooperation agreed on during the IDNDR, and developing new mechanisms as well as pushing for further commitments from policy-makers.
The overriding goal is to reduce human, social, economic and environmental losses due to natural hazards (and related technological and [[environmental disaster]]s). The building of disaster resilient communities is a main objective.
The ISDR promotes the following four objectives as tools towards reaching disaster reduction for all:
*Increase ''public awareness'' to understand risk, vulnerability and disaster reduction globally
*Obtain commitment from public authorities to ''implement disaster reduction policies and actions''
*''Stimulate interdisciplinary and inter-sectoral partnerships'', including the expansion of risk reduction networks
*''Improve scientific knowledge'' about disaster reduction
'''ISDR Mission'''
Catalyze, facilitate and mobilize the commitment and resources of national, regional and international stakeholders of the ISDR System to build the resilience of nations and communities to disasters through the implementation of the Hyogo Framework for Action.
Recognizing that natural hazards can threaten any one of us, the ISDR builds on partnerships and takes a global approach to disaster reduction, seeking to involve every individual and every community towards the goals of reducing the loss of lives, the socio-economic setbacks and the environmental damages caused by natural hazards. In order to achieve these goals, the ISDR promotes four objectives as tools towards reaching disaster reduction for all:
Increase public awareness to understand risk, vulnerability and disaster reduction globally
The more people, regional organizations, governments, non-governmental organizations, United Nations entities, representatives of civil society and others know about risk, vulnerability and how to manage the impacts of natural hazards, the more disaster reduction measures will be implemented in all sectors of society. Prevention begins with information.
Obtain commitment from public authorities to implement disaster reduction policies and actions
The more decision-makers at all levels commit themselves to disaster reduction policies and actions, the sooner communities vulnerable to natural disasters will benefit from applied disaster reduction policies and actions. This requires, in part, a grassroots approach whereby communities at risk are fully informed and participate in risk management initiatives.
Stimulate interdisciplinary and intersectoral partnerships, including the expansion of risk reduction networks
The more entities active in disaster reduction share information on their research and practices, the more useful the global body of knowledge and experience will progress. By sharing a common purpose and through collaborative efforts we can ensure a world that is more resilient to the impact of natural hazards.
Improve scientific knowledge about disaster reduction
The more we know about the causes and consequences of natural hazards and related technological and environmental disasters on societies, the more we are able to be better prepared to reduce risks. Bringing the scientific community and policy makers together allows them to contribute to and complement each other's work.
'''Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction'''
It was convened on the basis of guidance contained in the resolution of the General Assembly on the ISDR that calls for the adoption by governments of the Hyogo Framework and that recognizes the Global Platform as a successor mechanism to the Inter-Agency Task Force for Disaster Reduction. National practitioners and other stakeholders have repeatedly expressed the desire to have a mechanism through which they can exchange their experiences in disaster risk reduction and access information on how other countries addressed particular challenges in the implementation of the Hyogo Framework. The Global Platform has been set up to serve this need, and it is expected to become the main global forum for all parties involved in disaster risk reduction, namely governments, United Nations agencies, international financial institutions, regional bodies, civil society, the private sector, and the scientific and academic communities. The Global Platform provides advocacy for effective action to reduce disaster risks, expands the political space devoted to the issue, and contributes to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals particularly in respect to poverty reduction and environmental sustainability.
The UN/ISDR is the focal point in the UN System to promote links and synergies between, and the coordination of, disaster reduction activities in the socio-economic, humanitarian and development fields, as well as to support policy integration. It serves as an international information clearinghouse on disaster reduction, developing awareness campaigns and producing articles, journals, and other publications and promotional materials related to disaster reduction. The UN/ISDR headquarters is based in Geneva. It conducts outreach programmes through its regional units in Panama for the Americas, Nairobi for Africa, Cairo for Western Asia & North Africa.
=='''ISDR Regional Unit for the Americas'''==
'''DISASTER RISK REDUCTION'''
Disaster risk reduction is everybody’s responsibility. All of us may be affected by disaster, be it an earthquake, a hurricane or floods – that is why everybody is concerned when it comes to reducing risk. Disasters are not natural and can often be prevented. We need to reduce communities’ and countries’ vulnerability by tackling its root causes and thus increase their resilience to hazards – when societies are prepared they can, to a large extent, cope with natural shocks. Lives and livelihoods can be saved when disaster risk reduction is made a priority.
'''DISASTERS IN THE AMERICAS'''
The region of the Americas is prone to all types of natural hazards – from landslides to volcanic eruptions, from hurricanes to earthquakes, wildland fires, floods and drought. Combined with socio-economic and environmental vulnerable conditions in many countries of the region, this has led to numerous and widespread disasters, some of them of huge magnitude. Population growth and rapid urbanization, environmental degradation, and climate change all pose great challenges to disaster risk reduction in the Americas.
In the last three decades alone, an estimated 160 million people in Latin America and the Caribbean were affected by disasters triggered by natural hazards. The hurricane season in 2005 broke all records, including hurricanes Katrina and Stan hitting the USA and Central America. In 2007, Mexico, Colombia and Bolivia suffered extensive floods affecting more than 2 million people. There has also been seismic and volcanic activity in different parts of the region.
People and communities in the Americas – in particular, those living in poverty – are vulnerable to natural hazards, and their livelihoods at risk.
'''THE UNITED NATIONS INTERNATIONAL STRATEGY FOR DISASTER REDUCTION SECRETARIAT, REGIONAL UNIT FOR THE AMERICAS'''
Who we are
The secretariat of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UN/ISDR) is the UN interagency secretariat with the mandate to coordinate, promote and strengthen disaster risk reduction on a global, regional, national and local level. The UN/ISDR secretariat is working towards a world without needless losses from disaster – following a guiding mission to catalyze, facilitate, and advocate for action that will protect lives and livelihoods from the impact of natural hazards.
The UN/ISDR headquarters is based in Geneva, Switzerland. It works through regional offices in Africa, Asia, the Americas and Europe. [http://www.unisdr.org/]
In keeping with the mandate of the UN/ISDR secretariat, tehe Regional Unit for the Americas strives to provide support to actors throughout the region, including North America, Latin America and the Caribbean, in fostering a culture of disaster prevention and contributing to build disaster resilient nations and communities. Our office is located in Panama City, Panama.
What we do
We build and support partnerships and networks with development and humanitarian groups in the region, to build disaster resilience and promote disaster risk reduction. Partners include UN agencies, governments, international organizations, regional actors, NGOs, civil society and the private sector.
We advocate for increased government action on disaster risk reduction. We promote the integration of disaster reduction policies and legislation into sustainable development planning, for example by supporting multi-stakeholder national, regional and thematic platforms on disaster risk reduction.*[See below]
We inform people by producing information and education materials, and promoting scientific and technical research, including guidance on disaster risk reduction strategies, protection and preparedness measures. [http://www.eird.org/publicaciones/lista.html; http://www.eird.org/eng/educacion/educacion-dos-ing.htm] We develop tools to make information available to a wide public, such as the journal ISDR Informs [http://www.eird.org/eng/revista/no-14-2007/index.html] and the online resource HFA-Pedia [http://www.eird.org/hfa.html].
We communicate with all stakeholders in society who are concerned with disaster prevention. We work with journalists to raise awareness of the importance of disaster prevention – often neglected by the media in the aftermath of disasters. We reach out to communities that are potentially at risk from the impact of natural by hazards, by communicating about disaster prevention at a local level. For example, using radio dramas (in Spanish): [http://www.eird.org/esp/radionovela/radionovela-audio-replicas.htm].
We campaign, together with partners, to build awareness of disaster risk reduction, and reduce communities’ vulnerability to the impact of hazards. Our campaigns aim to strengthen disaster risk reduction policies and to influence the attitudes of decision-makers and society at large, towards dealing with disaster risk. [http://www.unisdr.org/eng/public_aware/world_camp/2008-2009/wdrc-2008-2009.html]
We promote the implementation of the Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA) – a set of guidelines, adopted by 168 countries worldwide, on how to integrate disaster risk reduction policies into national development agendas. We work to build a common understanding of the Hyogo Framework and to make its priorities of mitigating the impact of natural hazards and reducing vulnerability a political and socioeconomic reality. [http://www.unisdr.org/eng/hfa/docs/HFA-brochure-English.pdf]
REGIONAL PARTNERS
PNUD/BCPR, World Bank , OCHA,ILO/ITC, OAS, ACS, CEPREDENAC, CARICOM, CDERA, CAPRADE, PREDECAN, FEMICA, CIIFEN, CRID etc.
For more information please visit http://preventionweb.net
'''NATIONAL PLATFORMS'''
National Platforms are coordination mechanisms consisting in a forum, committee or network that addresses disaster risk reduction goals through a coordinated, participatory and cumulative process of initiatives and actions. National platforms work towards better resourced, more effective and integrated efforts of risk reduction among stakeholders at the national, regional and international level. The UN/ISDR secretariat, in coordination with other UN agencies – in particular the UN Development Programme (UNDP) – and relevant regional organizations, actively promotes the development and strengthening of national platforms.
'''THEMATIC PLATFORMS'''
Thematic platforms are clusters, groups and networks working on specific topics of the disaster risk reduction agenda, such as climate change adaptation, early warning, education, urban risk, recovery and capacity development. The overall aim of thematic platforms is to mainstream disaster risk reduction into different related areas such as development and humanitarian work, urban and territorial planning, education, environment and climate change agendas.
==See also==
*[[Global Alliance for Disaster Reduction]] [http://www.gadr.giees.uncc.edu/ ]
*[[Global Disaster Information Network]] [http://www.gdin.org/]
*[[World Conference on Disaster Reduction]]
*[[Natural Disasters]]
*[[Disaster management]]
*[[Vulnerability]]
==External links==
*[http://www.unisdr.org/ ISDR]
*[http://www.eird.org/ ISDR Regional Unit for the Americas]
*[http://www.preventionweb.net/ PREVENTIONWEB]
*[http://www.proventionconsortium.org ProVention Consortium]
[[Category:United Nations]]
[[Category:International organizations]]
[[Category:Disaster preparedness]]
[[de:Dekade zur Reduzierung von Naturkatastrophen]]