DISASTER RISK REDUCTION COUNTDOWN AT 5 YEARS Is the world on track to meet the targets of the Sendai Framework?

United Nations member states have five years to meet all seven targets of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030. There is no cause for panic as, according to Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction Kamal Kishore, the world is making significant progress toward resiliency and reduction of global disaster mortality.

- By CECILE J. BALTASAR

"If you live in a cyclone-, hurricane-, typhoon-prone area anywhere in the world right now, the mortality risk is a third of what it was 15 years ago," Kishore said at the media reception for the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction 2024 on October 14, 2024 in Manila.

WHAT IS THE SENDAI FRAMEWORK?

Following the 2015 Third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction, the UN General Assembly endorsed the creation of the Sendai Framework, named after the city of Sendai, Japan.

In 2011, the eastern part of the Japanese coast, which includes Sendai, was struck by a major earthquake and tsunami, claiming over 15,000 lives. This brought about a collective effort from the international community to focus on disaster risk reduction (DRR).

The Sendai Framework, with a life span of 15 years, is a guide toward the substantial reduction of disaster risk and losses in lives, livelihoods, and health. It also advocates for the mitigation of risk and loss in the economic, physical, social, cultural, and environmental assets of people, businesses, communities, and countries.