International Day for Disaster Reduction – 13th of October 2017 – Home Safe Home
The 13th of October is the International Day for Disaster Reduction. The day is designated by the United Nations General Assembly and it was held for the first time in 1989. The purpose is to promote a global culture of disaster reduction, including disaster prevention, mitigation and preparedness. The day presents an opportunity to create global awareness about disaster risk reduction, the progress made and to encourage further efforts to build disaster resilient communities and nations.
In March 2015, the Sendai Framework forDisaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 was adopted at the Third UN World Conference in Sendai Japan.
The Sendai Framework has seven global targets
a) Substantially reduce global disaster mortality by 2030, aiming to lower the average per 100,000 global mortality rate in the decade 2020–2030 compared to the period 2005–2015;
b) Substantially reduce the number of affected people globally by 2030, aiming to lower the average global figure per 100,000 in the decade 2020–2030 compared to the period 2005–2015;
c) Reduce direct disaster economic loss in relation to global gross domestic product (GDP) by 2030;
d) Substantially reduce disaster damage to critical infrastructure and disruption of basic services, among them health and educational facilities, including through developing their resilience by 2030;
e) Substantially increase the number of countries with national and local disaster risk reduction strategies by 2020;
f) Substantially enhance international cooperation to developing countries through adequate and sustainable support to complement their national actions for implementation of the present Framework by 2030;
g) Substantially increase the availability of and access to multi-hazard early warning systems and disaster risk information and assessments to people by 2030.
Last year the target (a) was promoted on the International Day for Disaster Reduction, and this year the focus is on target (b), with emphasis on prevention, protection and reducing the number og people affected by disasters. Hence, the slogan this year HOME SAFE HOME. The focus is on primal importance of the family home as a sanctuary and safe refuge in times of disaster with a particular focus on preventing displacement.
Further information aboutthe day , success stories from around the world, events, resources and blogs and views. This text is based on the concwept note of the International Day for DisasterReduction.
Hazard and Risk Assessment on Natural Hazards in Iceland
The Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO) conducts hazard- and risk- assessment of natural hazards in Iceland on request by the Icelandic government. The work is organized in accordance with the risk assessment framework of the UN-ISDR . The main purpose of the assessments is to minimize loss of life and increase the resilience of society by decreasing vulnerability.
IMO has over 20 years' experience regarding risk assessment in avalanches. During this period, tremendous progress has been made in minimising the impact of avalanches. Acceptable risk has been defined, and law and regulations set about avalanche mitigation, prevention and fortification. In many avalanche-prone towns and villages protection dams have been built (e.g. in Siglufjörður, see photo). These engineering solutions and the Early Warning System that has been established have helped to make inhabitants safer in their local communities and in their homes.
Dissemination of information, observations and reports that have been conducted is important, and on IMO's web-site information on the hazard- and risk assessment that have been conducted are available in addition to an avalanche map viewer , where information on snow-pack and avalanche records that IMO collects, can be found.
