Update

An Afghanistan-based project with the dual goal of preventing downstream flood damage, and increasing land productivity through holistic watershed management, has won the 7th Swiss Re 2009 International ReSource Award for sustainable watershed management...

Many governments in Asia face significant financial risks when catastrophes occur. Given the rapid development of income and wealth in Asia, the financial exposures will swiftly rise. This is likely to increase the focus on prevention...

Minister Namugala expressed concern that most African countries including Zambia were still not fully aware of the serious threats that climate change posed to people’s livelihoods and sustainable development...

'We are at high risk and can be hit by any of the mentioned natural hazards and we live at a location that is exposed to the risk. It is like we are sitting on a time bomb and don't know when it will burst,' said Natural Disaster Management office director Joeli Cawaki...

'Climate change is making less water available in many regions as glaciers recede, rainfall becomes less predictable, and floods and droughts become more extreme. Managing water carefully and balancing the varied needs for it is vital' said Ban Ki-moon...

'A person living in our region is four times more likely to be affected by natural disasters than someone living in Africa and 25 times more likely then someone living in Europe or North America' said Dr. Noeleen Heyzer...

A new Inter-American Development Bank $600 million contingent credit facility will be available to help countries in Latin America and the Caribbean better cope with natural disasters...

An opinion piece suggesting the need for Vietnam to integrate measures on natural hazard mitigation into the national programme on climate change...

WMO is calling attention to the interaction between weather patterns, climate and air quality. Gases and particles emitted to the atmosphere affect people’s health, as well as weather and climate...

Minister of Environment, Mr John Odey, commended the National Emergency Management Agency for taking proactive steps on disaster and emergency issues, adding that government was impressed by some of the agency's initiatives, especially on disaster risk reduction...