13 October 2023, International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction 2023

International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction 2023: The International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction is observed every year on the 13^th of October highlighting and appreciating the efforts of people and communities all over the world in reducing their vulnerability to disasters. Even this year on 13^th October, the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction 2023 will be celebrated.

International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction

Disasters are natural or man-made events that can cause hazardous damage and loss of life. A few examples of such disasters are earthquakes, pandemics, cyclones, wildfires etc. These disaster calamities have a devastating impact on human beings and communities even for generations to come.

Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) is a way to combat and reduce the risks of disasters and mitigate the dreadful impacts caused by them. DRR include various measures like evacuation plans, infrastructure resilience to disasters, disaster-resistant architectures, early warning systems etc.

The International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction emphasizes the importance of understanding the gravity of and managing the risks people might encounter in a disaster annually on 13^th October. The day is known for celebrating how people and different communities globally are reducing the chances of their exposure to disasters. At the same time, these people spread awareness about the challenges and difficulties associated with the risks of the disaster is appreciated on this day.

International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction 2023

October 13^th, 2023 is celebrated as International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction emphasizing the significance of disaster management among people. International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction 2023 aims to educate people globally on how to mitigate risks and challenges posed by natural disasters. The goal of this day is to minimize the financial effects and loss of human lives caused by horrific natural disasters.

There are a number of factors to evaluate disaster risk governance, good management and disaster risk governance are measured by the number of lives saved, reduction in the number of disaster-affected people, timely provided help to people affected and reduced economic losses.

An urgent need for a broad vision and plans for public welfare and disaster risk reduction persists after witnessing COVID-19 and uncertain climate changes. This can be achieved by the formation of robust national and local strategies for disaster risk reduction. The fact that disasters hit and affect more at the local level potentially takes many human lives and causes social and economic disruptions. The UN Member States agreed to this at the third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in Sendai, Japan, and adopted the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction in 2015.

The International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction in 2023 emphasizes the critical connection between disasters and inequality. Inequality in accessing essential services makes individuals and communities vulnerable and exposed to the risks of the hazards. Inadequate resources or scarcity of essentials to the public increases the impacts of disasters. The effects of disaster worsen the conditions of people and communities due to already existing inequalities. Such natural calamities can push populations particularly disadvantaged groups into poverty therefore, and the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) is urging people to take action.

Origin of International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction

In 1989, the UN General Assembly through a resolution designated the second Wednesday of October as International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction. Furthermore, on 21^st December 2009, the assembly adopted a new resolution deciding to commemorate the Day on 13 October and renaming it as International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction. Annually observed, 13^th October caters as a platform to promote risk awareness and disaster reduction globally.

It was further highlighted at the Third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in Sendai, Japan in 2015 that disasters have their most significant impact at the local level and causes potentially the most loss of lives and substantial social and economic disruption.

Strategies for Disaster Risk Reduction

• To develop and plan strategies that address both, single hazards like floods and storms and also systemic risk generated by zoonotic diseases, climate shocks, and environmental breakdown.
• To develop multi-sectoral strategies and link policies in areas such as land use, building codes, public health, education, agriculture, environmental protection, energy, water resources, poverty reduction, and climate change adaptation.

International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction 2023  Portal

The official website for International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction 2023 is https://www.un.org/en/observances/disaster-reduction-day and https://iddrr.undrr.org/.

The Theme for International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction 2023

The theme of ‘Fighting Inequality for A Resilient Future’ is selected for the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction 2023. The theme addresses the connection between disasters and inequality. Unequal access to services and resources exposes the most vulnerable to the extreme risks of disasters pushing the population further into poverty. This theme correlates with the Sendai Framework, a global accord that aims at preventing and decreasing losses of lives, economies, and infrastructure. 

Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR) Framework

At the 3^rd World Conference on Disaster Risk held in March 2015, Sendai, Japan approved the Reduction Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction. Before this Hyogo Framework came into effect in 2005 and ended in 2015, with the introduction of Sendai Framework.

It introduced and provides seven distinct targets and four strategic priorities for action to prevent new and reduce existing disaster risks: understanding disaster risk, strengthening disaster risk governance to manage disaster risk, investing in disaster reduction for resilience and enhancing disaster preparedness for effective response, and to “Build Back Better” in recovery, rehabilitation, and reconstruction.

Conclusion on International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction 2023

Every year, millions of people are forced to relocate due to sudden calamities, and many of these disasters are made worse by climate change and pandemics. Such occurrences have a detrimental impact on sustainable development investments and this day serves as a reminder of the critical need to address disaster risk reduction at all scales and levels, from the local levels, and communities to the international arena.

International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction 2023 UPSC

India is vulnerable to natural and man-made disasters, being an important topic of concern in the nation and budding civil servants. For all the UPSC aspirants, it is advisable to go through the facts and relevance of the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction and International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction 2023 to get the basic and current information. It can be formed as a relevant question in UPSC Prelims under current affairs.

Sharing is caring!