Red Cross EU Office: Investing in disaster resilience saves lives and money

Today marks International Day for Disaster Reduction. In a world increasingly prone to natural disasters, it is an opportunity to take stock: are we doing enough to prepare communities? There is little doubt that climate change, urbanisation, population growth and environmental degradation will not halt this trend. But we can ensure that we are better informed, prepared and more resilient when the next disaster strikes.

The most vulnerable countries are particularly exposed. Here, it only takes a moment for an earthquake or a major flood to dash the hopes of a better future. But middle and high income countries are also at risk. Recently, Central Europe has suffered ‘once-in-a-century’ floods for a second time in 13 years. And the pictures of the devastation following the 2011 triple disaster in Japan remain engrained in our memories. It is clear that catastrophe can reach us all. Nobody is immune.

There are no easy solutions but it is obvious that without building more resilient communities, the loss of life and property will continue to rise. Over the past three decades, the costs imposed by natural disasters have quadrupled, and now annually exceed 150 billion euros globally.

This is why investment in disaster risk reduction must be high up on our list of priorities – to prevent hazards from turning into crises.

Prevention pays dividends. Each euro invested in the disaster risk reduction yields between four to seven times more, in terms of reduced recovery costs. With growing disaster risks the return on these investments is likely to grow.

The European Commission and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies have been working together for many years to contribute towards disaster risk reduction through the Disaster Preparedness Programme (DIPECHO). In strong partnership, we have supported people and communities throughout the world to strengthen their resilience by investing in disaster risk reduction and preparedness, establishing early warning systems, promoting health, hygiene and disease prevention, and supporting sustainable livelihoods and food security. The focus of our actions has been on the most vulnerable - women, children, elderly people, people with disabilities, the homeless and the poor. But more needs to be done.

The Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA) is a 10-year action plan endorsed by the UN General Assembly in 2005, with the intention of making the world safer from natural hazards. Next spring, a UN Conference in Sendai, Japan, will provide an opportunity to discuss the impact of the framework and to set the world on a more sustainable course.

First, we need better structures at international, national and local level fostering accountability and better coordination between different public authorities and other stakeholders, including the private sector. Closer cooperation is essential to improve planning and resilience but also to learn from each other. Secondly, we need to focus on results. Our aim is to make people feel more secure by creating a culture of resilience at national and community levels. Thirdly, we need to harness the potential of risk reduction as a driver of jobs, innovation, growth and development.

Most importantly, we must put the most vulnerable groups at the heart of our action. Through initiatives such as planting vegetable gardens in Mauritania’s desert, building safer shelter in the Philippines or carrying out evacuation drills in Paraguay, we help foster grassroots responses to the problems of climate change across different communities. Vulnerable people and groups are often the most severely affected by disaster. Their empowerment is key to achieving sustainable results.

It is our duty to future generations to put our efforts into creating a culture of resilience. But this can only happen when each one of us - every individual, every business, every government and every generation - recognizes this as an eternal obligation, as a duty for building a life free of fear.

The Disaster Resilience Journal is an online exploration of how individuals, communities and countries around the world are building resilience in a landscape of climate change, and social, economic and cultural shifts. Through example and illustration, it informs the audience about the issues faced by at-risk communities, the actions they are taking to prepare for disasters and what their resilience means and looks like.