The UN commemorated the International Day for Disaster Reduction (IDDR) on 13 October 2013, under the theme of 'Living with Disasters and Disability,' drawing attention to the approximately one billion people who live with some form of disability, and their vulnerability to disasters.
13 October 2013: The UN commemorated International Day for Disaster Reduction (IDDR) on 13 October 2013, under the theme of ‘Living with Disasters and Disability.’ IDDR 2013 intended to raise awareness of the importance of including the needs of persons living with disabilities in the post-2015 framework for disaster risk reduction (DRR).
In a message delivered to mark the Day, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon noted that the disabled suffer disproportionately high levels of disaster-related mortality and injuries. He called for strengthening DRR through inclusivity, underscoring the need to empowers persons with disabilities to take ownership of their own safety and that of their community. Ban stressed that the September 2013 UN General Assembly High-level Meeting on Disability and Development recognized the urgent need for action on this issue. [IDDR 2013 Website] [UN Social Development Network Press Release] [UN Secretary-General Statement] [UNCCD Press Release] [IISD RS Story on the High-Level Forum on Disability and Development]