The United Nations has called on governments and communities around the world to prioritize building resilience against disasters, securing basic living environments and safe homes, with the aim of reducing human losses and protecting the most vulnerable groups.
UN News reported that UN Secretary-General António Guterres said in a message today, Tuesday, on the occasion of the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, that commemorating this year's day under the theme "Resilience starts at home" highlights the importance of ensuring that homes are planned, built, and maintained in a way that protects residents from various risks.
Guterres emphasized that safety begins where we live, as preparedness at the household level starts with understanding risks, having a plan, and acting quickly, warning that families cannot do this alone. The UN Secretary-General pointed out that millions of homes suffer damage or destruction due to disasters every year, causing families to lose their shelter and exacerbating poverty.
He added that older people, persons with disabilities, and low-income families are among the most vulnerable to risks. Guterres stressed that governments must strictly enforce building codes and land-use planning to reduce risks, and that the private sector should invest in resilient construction and affordable insurance.
He continued that every family should have a disaster preparedness plan and be able to access accurate and timely information about risks, and participate in efforts to build safer communities. The UN focuses on protecting the most vulnerable groups and securing basic living environments to reduce human and economic losses resulting from climate change and extreme natural phenomena.
It is worth noting that an average of 100 million people were affected by disasters annually between 2016 and 2025, and the total cost of disasters currently exceeds 2.3 trillion dollars per year.
Source: Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)
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