International Day for the Natural Disaster Reduction is celebrated on October 13, 2024. It was declared in the context of the International Decade for Disaster Risk Reduction, an initiative of the United Nations General Assembly when it was decided to celebrate it as an annual event in 2002, and then officially declare it as such in 2009.
The United Nations Disaster Risk Reduction Office (UNISDR) is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, with offices in most major cities around the world to reduce disaster risk and build safer communities
Since the issue of disaster Reduction requires efforts from all sectors of society, notably the media, civil society, and public and private sectors, UNISDR works with all actors at the grassroots level to tackle the problem.
History of Celebration of Natural Disaster Reduction
The celebration of the International Day for the Reduction of Natural Disasters began in 2009. The United Nations General Assembly decided on the second Wednesday in October to celebrate international efforts to reduce natural disasters. Resolution 64/200 of the Assembly adopted on 21 December 2009 introduced a clause amending the second clause of Wednesday and a fixed date of 13 October of each year as International Day for the Prevention of Natural Disasters.
The agenda was to raise awareness and encourage people to take action to reduce the threat of disasters around the world. At the 3rd World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction, the United Nations was briefed on neglecting the population, which has led to more deaths per disaster than in previous years.
Importance of International Day for Disaster Reduction
- Natural disasters include storms, earthquakes, floods, tsunamis or even heatwaves and droughts.
- Over the past 20 years, 1.3 million people have died as a result of economic disasters, averaging $ 250 to $ 300 billion a year, and 19.3 million people have left their jobs and homes.
- We are helpless against these problems, but with proper preparation, early warning, and more developed infrastructure, we can dramatically reduce losses and save lives.
- There is a need to raise awareness of risk management and to inform the public about what to do in the event of a natural disaster.
- That’s why disaster management is one of the 17 goals of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
- The International Day for Disaster Reduction also provides a global platform to foster coordination between countries to share their experience and knowledge.
Disaster Management in India
- India has been actively involved in all international civil protection and national flagship programs of the United Nations.
- The Government of India has set up a National Civil Protection Authority and Institution to address the challenges of disaster risk.
- In 2016, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a National Civil Protection Plan (NDMP) in line with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.
- The National Civil Protection Plan aims to prepare India for disasters related to improving early warning systems, reducing deaths, evacuation, medical care, and relief. India strives for a sustainable fight against disasters.
- In 2017, India launched the geostationary communication satellite in South Asia to improve weather forecasting, disaster information exchange, and communication between South Asian countries.
- India has a number of international disaster prevention days, including educational seminars, awareness campaigns, and poster school contests, slogans, debates, and student education.
How is the International Day for the Reduction of Natural Disasters celebrated?
Each year, we celebrate the International Day for the Reduction of Natural Disasters to raise awareness of the impact of ongoing changes in our environment that lead to disasters. Millions of people are encouraged to speak up and talk about their efforts to understand the threat that has led to the loss of people and property.
These people encourage others to participate in awareness-raising campaigns and various activities are organized to commemorate the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction. Employees of various governmental and non-governmental organizations launch awareness programs.
The media plays an important role in organizing the number of online volunteer programs. The younger generation today uses Facebook, Twitter, and other social apps to spread the theme of the International Day for the Reduction of Natural Disasters. They share events in different states, famous environmental quotes, and facts, and add photos on a particular year’s theme.
International Day for Disaster Reduction 2018 Theme
“Reducing Disaster Economic Losses”
- “If a country invests $1 in disaster management it can save a minimum of $4 to $7 to disaster response” is the significance of this year’s International Day for Disaster Reduction Theme.
- Every year the UN provides a theme to focus on the activities of Disaster Reduction Day.
- International Day for Disaster Reduction 2018 subject is a part of the “Sendai Seven” campaign launched by the united Nations Office for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR).
- The UN adopted the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction in 2015 at the Third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in Sendai, Japan.
- This framework has seven key goals to save lives and reduce economic losses globally by 2030 with the coordination of the member states.
- This involves countries, governments, private organizations, communities, local governments, and even UN departments in the activities and promotion to reduce global mortality from disasters…
Seven goals of the Sendai Seven campaign
- Save lives from natural disasters
- Reduce the number of people affected
- Measures to reduce economic losses
- Reduction of infrastructure damage and interruptions of basic food and health needs.
- Encourage countries to develop disaster risk reduction strategies
- Encouraging cooperation between developing countries
- Improve access to disaster response early warning systems
Themes of the International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction
- The theme for 2018 was: “Reducing Economic Losses of Disasters”.
- The theme for 2017 was: “Home Safe Home – Reduce Exposure, Reduce Displacement”.
- The theme for 2016 was: “Living to tell: raising awareness, reducing mortality”
- The theme for 2015 was: “Knowledge for Life”
- The theme for 2014 was: “Resilience is for life”
- The theme for 2013 was: “Living with a disability and disasters”
- The theme for 2012 was: “Women and girls: the invisible strength of resilience”
- The theme for 2011 was: “Children and Youth are Partners for Disaster Risk Reduction: A Step Forward for Disaster Risk Reduction!”
- The theme for 2010 was: “My city is getting ready!”
Conclusion
Therefore, we can say that we cannot completely avoid disasters, as long as we live in the heart of nature and we have no way out. Because we have to live in a natural environment, we need to pay more attention to disasters, whether caused by man or by nature. Adequate disaster management is one of the most important tasks of humanity. If we find an ideal scientific management plan, it is possible to reduce the impact of the catastrophe faced by humanity. Effective planning is always the best answer to everything that is beyond our control, and this must be done in the case of natural disasters or man-made disasters.
Disaster Slogans and Quotes
1. “When disaster strikes, it tears the curtain away from the festering problems that we have beneath them.” » Obama
2. “Worrying about the past or the future isn’t productive. When you start chastising yourself for past mistakes or seeing disaster around every corner, stop and take a breath and ask yourself what you can do right now to succeed.” » Harvey Mackay
3. “A great calamity is as old as the trilobites an hour after it has happened.” » Holmes
4. “Disaster mitigation… increases the self-reliance of people who are at risk – in other words, it is empowering.” » Ian Davis
5. “Eighteen years since the Chornobyl disaster. Is it just me surprised? Still no superheroes!” » Jimmy Carr
6. “If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster/ And treat those two impostors just the same.” » Kipling
7. “The word “disaster,” in fact, means “bad star.” » Kenneth L. Franklin
8. “The man does better who runs from disaster than he who is caught by it.” » Homer
9. “Any statistics can be extrapolated to the point where they show disaster.” » Thomas Sowell
10. “They are safe but they are not in their homes. They are city-less. I think it’s just a disaster for everyone.” » Teri Hatcher
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| October Social Events | Date of Celebration |
| National Voluntary Blood Donation Day | 1st October |
| International Day for Elderly People | 1st October |
| Gandhi Jayanti | 2nd October |
| Anti Untouchability Week | 2nd to 8th October |
| Wildlife Week | 2nd to 8th October |
| World Habitat Day | First Monday of the month of October |
| Air Force Day | 8th October |
| World Post Day | 9th October |
| International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction | 11th October |
| World Standards Day | 14th October |
| World Students Day | 15th October |
| World Food Day | 16th October |
| World Savings Day | 30th October |
| National Unity Day | 31st October |