As disasters increase, risk reduction should a be a concern for all - UN chief

10:34, 14 October 2011

W YORK. October 14. KAZINFORM Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today stressed that disaster risk reduction should be a daily concern for everyone, noting that vulnerability to catastrophes is growing faster than the world's capacity to strengthen resilience, as evidenced by the devastation wrought by the recent series of floods, earthquakes, tsunamis and droughts.

"The good news is that some countries have shown how to reduce risk from floods and cyclones," Mr. Ban said in his message to mark the International Day for Disaster Reduction , which is observed today. "Investments in early warning and other measures are paying dividends."

To mark the Day, the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR ) and its partners invited children and young people to "Step Up for Disaster Risk Reduction," saying they were the groups most affected by disasters, the UN News Centre reports.

An estimated 100 million young people are affected by reported disasters each year and thousands of them are killed and injured.

"We know from many courageous stories which emerge post-disaster that young people are not passive victims of events beyond their control," said Margareta Wahlstrцm, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction and head of UNISDR.

"Around the world we have seen the evidence that young people are quick to respond to tragic events," she said in her message. "There is ample evidence that wherever young people are empowered with information and skills training, they are important actors in disaster management and have a keen eye for where risk can be reduced in the community."

In Nepal, for example, schoolchildren are taught the basics of building homes safely, while risk reduction and climate change adaptation activities involving children in Cuba are now being emulated in other parts of the world.

Recently, more than 600 young boys and girls in Africa, Asia and Latin America developed a Children's Charter to reduce disaster risk, Mr. Ban pointed out.

At events across the around the world today, and in the next 12 months, UNISDR will work with its partners - the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF ) and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) such as Plan, Save the Children and World Vision - To promote the new Children's Charter for Disaster Risk Reduction.

For full version go to http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=40031&Cr=disaster&Cr1=risk

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