We observe 

that recent disasters such as the earthquake and tsunami in Japan (2011), the earthquake in Haiti (January 2010), the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico (April 2010), the floods in Pakistan (August 2010) and Australia (January 2011), and the heatwave and wildfires in Russia (summer 2010) highlight the increasing devastation and variety of disasters the world is facing today.

We highlight

that risk and disasters are threatening development and security. Disaster Risk Management must become a major global concern.

We underline

that the combination of the world’s growing population with expanding urbanisation and the exposure of people and values to risk has aggravated the risk potential for communities and nations. Climate change is exacerbating the risk situation.

We believe

that in order to support prevention, intervention and fast recovery from unexpected events, it is crucial to promote projects and programmes in the field of Risk Reduction and Disaster Management along the guidelines of the Hyogo Framework for Action strategy.