News and announcements

These events 'underline the increasing vulnerability of humanity to natural disasters, vulnerability that is set to rise under the scientific scenarios if climate change is left unchecked' said Achim Steiner....

World Health Organization's Regional Office for the Western Pacific says structural safety of hospitals needs to be ensured to allow continuous services in times of disaster...

The Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility (CCRIF) is set to make a payout of approximately US$6.3 million to the government of the Turks and Caicos Islands...

"Cities need to understand that there are short-term, mid-term and longer-term actions that can and are being taken to build their resilience," said Fatima Shah of the World Bank's urban development sector unit....

The Federal Ministry of Science and Technology will provide relevant agencies with space-based technology to mitigate disasters and environmental problems....

El Instituto Dominicano de las Telecomunicaciones (Indotel) y el Centro de Operaciones de Emergencia (COE) informaron ayer que probaron “con éxito” el “Sistema de información de alerta” que permitirá utilizar el espectro radioeléctrico (teléfonos, celulares, televisión y radio) para prevenir situaciones de desastres. El “Sistema de Información de Alerta” fue creado por el consejo directivo del Indotel para facilitar al Centro de Operaciones de Emergencias (COE) informar a la ciudadanía sobre situaciones de catástrofes utilizando los servicios telefónicos o de difusión en todo el país.

Risk transfer can be an important mechanism to help mitigate the impact of disasters, especially in hazard prone countries such as the Philippines....

2008 Natural Disaster Business Risk Study reveals that 96% North-American company are exposed to natural disasters, yet less than 20% among them are concerned about the incidence of disasters....