At a signing ceremony in Toruń, the Marshall of the Kujawsko-Pomorskie Region, Mr. Piotr Calbecki, and Ms. Rosalind Cook, of UNISDR's Regional Office for Euroope

BRUSSELS, 4 June, 2018 - UNISDR’s Making Cities Resilient Campaign in Europe has received a major boost as Poland becomes a participant for the first time.

The Provincial Government of Kujawsko-Pomorskie in the north of the country has led the way and it comprises over 50 towns and cities that will now have the opportunity to sign up individually to participate in the Campaign which has 3,800 members around the world. The city of Rypin and district of Powiat Tucholski in the region also joined the Campaign in their own right.

A special signing ceremony and citizens’ dialogue on disasters was held in the UNESCO World Heritage city of Toruń, Poland. The event included a dialogue with representatives from local governments, volunteer organizations, academics, citizens and media in the region. It was organized by the Kujawsko-Pomorskie region, the European Committee of Regions and local government association, Salutaris.

Opening the event, the Marshall of the Kujawsko-Pomorskie Region, Mr. Piotr Całbecki, said: “Joining the Campaign is an important first step for our region as we increase efforts to reduce the risks from disasters and protect our citizens.”

In August 2017, the region suffered a devastating storm with hurricane-stength winds. Six people were killed, tens of thousands of trees were destroyed and thousands of homes were damaged. Estimates of the economic losses were €1 billion.