Review of natural catastrophes in 2014: Lower losses from weather extremes and earthquakes - Munich RE

The absence of very severe catastrophes and a quiet hurricane season in the North Atlantic meant that losses from natural catastrophes in 2014 were much lower. At US$ 7bn, the most expensive event in terms of overall loss was Cyclone Hudhud in India. Around 7,700 people lost their lives in natural catastrophes.

“Though tragic in each individual case, the fact that fewer people were killed in natural catastrophes last year is good news. And this development is not a mere coincidence. In many places, early warning systems functioned better, and the authorities consistently brought people to safety in the face of approaching weather catastrophes, for example before Cyclone Hudhud struck India’s east coast and Typhoon Hagupit hit the coast of the Philippines,” said Munich Re Board member Torsten Jeworrek. “However, the lower losses in 2014 should not give us a false sense of security, because the risk situation overall has not changed. There is no reason to expect a similarly moderate course in 2015. It is, however, impossible to predict what will happen in any individual year.”

UN cites decline in death from disasters

On the 10th anniversary of the Indian Ocean tsunami, UN Special Representative to the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction Margareta Wahlsrom said, “[t]hanks to a combination of better organization, coordination, response and preparedness [between the public and private sectors], improved weather forecasting, early warnings, public education, and media engagement, there has been a reduction in the number of people dying in such [disasters],” she said. “That’s the good news. But risk and opportunity are two sides of the same coin. Economic development and population growth are driving up our exposure to risk at an unprecedented rate and this is reflected in the escalation of economic losses this century, calculated by the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction to be in the region of $2 trillion,” Wahlstrom said. Governments will meet at the Third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction, March 2015 in Sendai, Japan, to adopt a post-2015 framework for disaster risk reduction.

Building resiliency task force: Sandy - One year later

This report looks back at Superstorm Sandy, asserting that the City of New York is better prepared for the next extreme weather event. It provides recommendations to make buildings safer while helping to fight climate change, including flood-resistant building requirements and resilience against higher winds, heavy rains, or extreme temperatures as well as coastal flooding. It reviews the progress of the proposals that have been enacted and provides a list of the proposals introduced at the City Council, at a proposed stage or as voluntary practices.

The way forward for community resilience

As the 4th Global Community Resilience Forum gets underway in Cali, Colombia, National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies from across the world together with government representatives, partners from the corporate sector, UN and intergovernmental bodies are focused on scaling up efforts in strengthening community resilience.  In his opening remarks, Under Secretary General of the IFRC’s Programme and Services Division, Walter Cotte, said that the meeting is an important platform for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and its member National Societies to determine the way forward to scale up their work in community resilience, strengthen advocacy and communication, mobilize resources, and improve the skills needed to ensure lasting impact.  “There is little doubt that climate change, urbanization, population growth and environmental degradation will continue to increase the impact of disasters. But how can we ensure that we are better informed, prepared and therefore more resilient when the next disaster strikes?” said Walter Cotte. 

International Day for Disaster Reduction: Preparedness saves lives, prevention avoids losses

Enabling communities to take measures to prevent a natural phenomenon from becoming a disaster is the best humanitarian investment. It is in our mandate, and in over 15 years of existence, ECHO’s disaster preparedness (DIPECHO) has done just that. In Latin America and the Caribbean, DIPECHO has worked since 1996 to reduce risk conditions in the event of disasters and contribute to increase people’s, communities’ and countries’ resilience in the region. More than 150 million Euros have been devoted to this aim in the region, reaching millions of Latin Americans with the involvement and participation of communities, emergency response agencies and authorities. What key lessons have emerged from this wealth of experiences? Watch this video to find out more and read the report.

New York, US: Governor Cuomo signs Community Risk and Resiliency Act

Law Provides Tools for the State and Local Communities to Prepare for Climate Change

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today signed into law the Community Risk and Resiliency Act to strengthen New York State’s preparedness for the effects of climate change and help protect communities against severe weather and sea level rise. The Community Risk and Resiliency Act advances a number of important recommendations of the NYS 2100 Commission, which the Governor convened after Superstorm Sandy to develop more resilient infrastructure systems across the state.“The new reality of extreme weather has had painful consequences for New Yorkers in virtually every region of our state, but today we’re taking another step forward in our goal of building back better, stronger, and more resilient than ever before,” Governor Cuomo said. “This new law contains a comprehensive package of actions that help strengthen and reimagine our infrastructure with the next storm in mind. I am proud to sign this legislation as we continue to move New York forward to a cleaner and more resilient future.”

International forum calls for focus on disaster recovery

Globally, natural disasters have caused damages of nearly $4 trillion over the past 30 years—and the frequency and intensity of these powerful storms, droughts and earthquakes continue to rise. Leaders from developing countries, civil society, private sector and agencies including the World Bank, European Union and United Nations are coming together this week to discuss how vulnerable countries can better prepare and protect hard won development gains by establishing recovery strategies and processes before disaster strikes. Carefully executed disaster recovery programs, however, present an opportunity to build back stronger and more resilient economies.

UN launches survey on older people and disasters

Geneva – The UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) in partnership with Help Age International, today launched a survey to solicit the views of older people on how they cope with disasters. A matching attitudes survey targeting governments and other agencies on the inclusion of older people in disaster management planning has also been placed online. Margareta Wahlström, UNISDR Head, said: “This year’s International Day for Disaster Reduction on October 13 will focus on older people, including their needs and what they contribute to better planning and understanding of disaster risk in their communities. We know from grim experience in both developed and developing countries that older persons often die in disproportionate numbers in disaster events.”

Science ‘is driving’ new plans for disaster risk reduction

The post-Hyogo Framework for Action, a global plan that will largely influence the global plan to reduce disaster risk reduction is expected to be adopted at the Third United Nations World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in Sendai, Japan from 14-18 March 2015. The consultations for drafting the document started in 2012 and the 'pre-zero draft' was published in August, reports SciDevNet. According to Pedro Basabe, senior programme officer at the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, the draft makes "significant improvements on the previous Hyogo text." He also added that "Science plays a more substantive role, not just in the priorities for action, but as a fundamental guiding principle.

Gaza, Francesco Rocca (CRI): “Popolazione al collasso. La situazione umanitaria è drammatica”.

La visita del Presidente della Croce Rossa Italiana in Palestina e nella Striscia di Gaza

Il 26 agosto il Presidente Nazionale della CRI e Vice Presidente della Federazione Internazionale di Croce Rossa e Mezzaluna Rossa (FICR), Francesco Rocca, si è recato nella Striscia di Gaza per visitare le attività della Mezzaluna Rossa Palestinese (PRCS) e portare solidarietà agli operatori umanitari della PRCS impegnati in prima linea nei soccorsi e negli interventi umanitari. Insieme con Francesco Rocca si trovano a Gaza il sottosegretario della FICR, Walter Cotte e il Presidente della PRCS Younis Al Khatib.