International Day for Disaster Reduction
10 October 2007
Today is the
 International Day for Disaster Reduction, a day on which we
refocus on the impact that natural disasters have on people around the world,
particularly those in poor countries, and are reminded of the importance of
tackling disasters before they strike, to prevent them from happening or to
reduce the damage they cause.
A growing global threat
 Every
year, 250 million people are affected by natural disasters, and the evidence
shows that the frequency and intensity of events is growing. In recent
months, flooding in Africa and
South Asia, and the
earthquake in Peru, have
brought home the devastating effect that disasters have on lives and
livelihoods. DFID's response in humanitarian aid demonstrated the role
that donor governments, as well as international aid agencies, can play
in helping to alleviate the situation on the ground.
But this is not the full story. With pressures such as climate change increasing the threat of
disasters, there is an increased need to build the resilience of poor countries
and their most vulnerable citizens. Natural disasters are a major threat to
development and to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. Not being able to cope can mean disease, hunger, loss of
educational opportunities and poverty. DFID's commitment to reducing the risk of
disasters recognises the development benefits of helping poor countries
withstand floods, famine, earthquakes and other potential catastrophes.
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Working internationally and within communities
Reducing risk means:
- Supporting the capacity of the international system to reduce the burden
of disasters in poor countries - which is why DFID is giving over £16
million to organisations such as the UN International Strategy for
Disaster Reduction (ISDR), the United Nations Development Programme's (UNDP)
Bureau
for Crisis Prevention and Recovery, the
World
Bank Global Facility for Disaster Risk Reduction and the
Red
Cross/Red Crescent Movement.
- Funding programmes in susceptible countries, such as India, where
DFID is providing over £60 million to increase disaster preparedness,
and Bangladesh, through support for the Government's
Comprehensive
Disaster Management Programme.
- Ensuring that DFID's development and humanitarian policies
incorporate measures for increasing resilience to and reducing the
impact of natural events - with at least six Country Assistance Plans in
disaster-prone countries now incorporating Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR).
- Supporting work at the community level to make poor people less
vulnerable to the shocks of natural disasters. DFID has committed £13
million to six non-governmental organisations (NGOs) working in 14
countries, and a further £3 million to the Red Cross and Red Crescent,
working to build community resilience.
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Building resilience in the wake of disasters
DFID has also pledged that, where it provides over £500,000 of humanitarian
aid, 10% of the funding will be used to prepare for, and lessen
the impact of, future disasters. In
recent years the 10% commitment has led to:
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