The death toll and the fact that the lives of over one million people have been affected is a further demonstration of why the region is so committed to implementing the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, she added.

“The key to saving lives in potential disaster zones lies in the execution of national and local strategies for disaster risk reduction. It also requires strong political leadership at both the national and local level,” Mizutori said.

In 2017, the Americas had one of the highest rates of population displacement in the world, largely as a result of a record-breaking Atlantic hurricane season.

“Latest research on the rise in mortality in Puerto Rico after the passage of Hurricane Maria, demonstrates the tragic long-term consequences of such events when transport links and public utilities are severely disrupted especially for those reliant on regular treatment and medical care,” she said.

The economic losses and the long-term consequences of such events on sustainable development, are the reason why “we must persevere in our efforts to reduce disaster losses by switching our focus from managing disasters to managing the risks which drive these events.”

“This means we have to tackle poverty, adapt to climate change, manage better the scale and quality of construction in our cities and towns, preserve protective eco-systems and strengthen institutional capacity to manage disaster risk.“

UNISDR’s  ‘Making Cities Resilient Campaign in the Americas’ forms a good basis for strengthening local efforts to reduce disaster risk, Mizutori said.

Already 1,800 cities and towns across the region participate in the campaign and “this is an excellent foundation for building resilience to disasters at the local level in one of the most heavily urbanised regions in the world,” she said.

Date:

20 Jun 2018

Sources:

United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction – Regional Office for the Americas (UNISDR AM)

Themes:

Community-based DRR, Gender, Advocacy & Media, Disaster Risk Management, Indigenous Knowledge, Children and Youth

Countries:

Colombia

Regions:

Americas