unisdr

1. Implications of disasters for achieving the Millennium Development Goals www.unisdr.org International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR)

2. WHERE DO WE STAND? Since 2005, the implementation of the Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA) has considerably reduced the number of people vulnerable to disasters. • More countries in Asia have disaster risk reduction (DRR) laws and institutional frameworks on DRR but lack of governance is a major problem • More countries are equipped with early warning systems, vulnerability maps, are informed, educated, have improved in preparedness • Global, regional and national efforts for disaster risk reduction and reinforcing resilience are increasing. International momentum for disaster risk reduction is currently at play in the discussions of sustainable development, climate change adaptation, the Millennium Development Goals • The HFA has been key to increasing understanding, knowledge and developing approaches and priorities for reducing disaster risk and building resilience.

3. Implications of disasters on MDG s • Disasters continue to destroy schools and many schools are too often used as shelters during disasters preventing thousands of children to go back school, months after the disaster (MDG2). (eg. Kashmir earthquake, Mindanao, cyclone Sendong in the Philippines) • Women and girls continue to be the most affected by disasters due to socio economic reasons. (14 times more vulnerable than men and boys). Disaster aftermath increase domestic and sexual violence (MDG3&5). • Children are in greater danger in floods and drought, face drowning, starvation and disease, (Recent flooding in Asia: more than 200 children died) (MDG4). • Disasters damage health infrastructure, result in disease, and epidemic outbreaks (MDG4&6). • Disasters lead to environmental degradation and impede development gains (MDG8).

4. Exposure to risk, disasters and losses • Between 2002 and 2011, there were 4130 disasters recorded, resulting from natural hazards around the world where 1,117,527 people perished and a minimum of US$1,195 billion recorded losses. • In the year 2011 alone, 302 disasters claimed 29,782 lives; affected 206 million people and inflicted damages worth a minimum of estimated US$366 billion • More people and assets are located in areas of high risk. The proportion of world population living in flood-prone river basins has increased by 114%, while those living on cyclone-exposed coastlines have grown by 192% over the past 30 years • Over half of the world’s large cities, with populations ranging from 2 to 15 million, are currently located in areas highly vulnerable to seismic activity. Rapid urbanization further increases exposure to disaster risk • Economic losses from disasters are going up (370 billion $ in 2011) threatening development gains and MDG achievements. The last floods in Bangkok, Thailand, set back global industrial production by 2.5 per cent

5. Climate risk is increasing rapidly

6. What media can do? • Raise awareness about disaster risk drivers (development creating risk, gaps in governance) as they are impeding MDG achievements • Create a demand for more disaster risk reduction actions • Convince governments, donors and local authorities to invest more in DRR • Convince for disaster risk to be integrated in to all aspects of development, into poverty reduction planning ( national and local) • Current estimates: only 1 per cent of the development aid goes to DRR

7. INVEST TODAY FOR A SAFER TOMORROW • Thank you United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reductionsecretariatunisdr@un.org