13 October 2010: The UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UN/ISDR) celebrated International Day for Disaster Reduction on 13 October 2010, under the theme of “My City is Getting Ready!”

In a message to mark the Day, UN/ISDR calls on all world leaders, policy makers, chief executive officers, civil society, international financial institutions and donors to join mayors and citizens to make their cities safer against disasters, as part of the Making Cities Resilient Campaign. Also to mark the Day, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon underlined that the frequency of disasters is predicted to increase as climate changes and hazards multiply. He recognized the activities of local governments and communities to protect themselves by building more sustainable towns and cities, and commended “those cities that are acting to build resilience to climate, environmental and social risks.” To cities that have not yet joined the Campaign, he asked “Is your city ready?”

The Campaign aims to enlist over 1,000 local government leaders to invest more in disaster risk reduction (DRR), including by: improving urban planning, infrastructure and building safety; reinforcing drainage systems to reduce flood, storm and health threats; installing early warning systems; conducting public preparedness drills; and taking measures to adapt to the increasing impacts of climate change. [UN/ISDR Press Release] [UN Secretary-General’s Message] [World Disaster Reduction Campaign Website]