The International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction 2021

The United Nations General Assembly has designated October 13th as the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction to promote a global culture of disaster risk reduction. It is an opportunity to acknowledge the progress being made toward reducing disaster risk and losses in lives, livelihoods and health in line with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 adopted at the Third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in Japan in March 2015.

In 2016, the UN Secretary-General launched “The Sendai Seven Campaign” to promote each of the seven targets over seven years. The 2021 target is Target F: “Substantially enhance international cooperation to developing countries through adequate and sustainable support to complement their national actions for implementation of the present Framework by 2030”.

In keeping with the Day’s focus on the impact that disasters have on people’s lives and well-being, this year’s theme was about highlighting best practices and examples of international cooperation, which have a positive impact on the lives of people who live in disaster-prone parts of the world i.e. reducing the numbers of people affected by man-made and natural hazards including extreme weather events, epidemics and pandemics, and earthquakes, environmental catastrophe and technological disasters.

In dedication of the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, UNDRR announced an Online Video Contest & a DRR Questionnaire, which contributed to raise greater awareness about disaster risk reduction at local level.

There were 200 entries to the DRR Questionnaire and multiple video submissions.

Winners of the Online Contest in Turkmenistan are:

• Shukurgeldi Myradov
• Nurjahan Meredova
• Jeyran Babajanova
• Ahmed Babakulyev
• Menli Tashliyeva
• Iyera Askerova

On the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, Mami Mizutori, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction and Head of UNDRR highlighted that «Only together can we make true progress towards a safer and more resilient planet»