Within five years every person will be protected by early warning systems

Sri Lanka is facing the worst disaster since independence in 1948. Though the new President Ranil Wickremesinghe is taking practical steps nationally and internationally to reduce the heavy socio-economic burdens on the people, it is known that millions of people are caught in the poverty trap with some families surviving with only one meal a day and others eat rice with only “polkiri.” To make matters worse large-scale bribery and corruption are continuing with little or no action being taken against the political and business leaders plundering the country, though the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) is being used or abused against university students and other young people who took part in the “Aragalaya” or public uprising which forced former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to flee the country and resign after serving less than half his term. To make matters worse long droughts and heavy floods have forced millions of people including farmers into mudholes instead of their precious paddy fields.   

These and related crises come to mind as the United Nations on October 13 marks the International Day for the Disaster Risk Reduction with the theme being “Access to early warning systems and disaster risk information and assessments.” In a statement, the UN says this event is an opportunity to acknowledge the progress being made toward preventing and reducing disaster risk and losses in lives, livelihoods, economies and basic infrastructure in line with the international agreement for reducing global disaster risk and losses.   

This year the International Day will focus on Target G of the Sendai Framework: “Substantially increase the availability of and access to multi-hazard early warning systems and disaster risk information and assessments to people by 2030.” The urgency to achieve this target was strengthened in March this year by the announcement made by the UN Secretary-General António Guterres that “the UN will spearhead new action to ensure that within five years every person on earth is protected by early warning systems.”   

This edition takes place during the Mid-term Review of the Sendai Framework, which will conclude at a High-level Meeting of the General Assembly in May next year with a political declaration. The primary goal of the Sendai Framework is to avoid creating new and reduce existing risk. But when that is not possible, people-centered early warning systems and preparedness can enable early action to minimize the harm to people, assets and livelihoods.   

This international day was started in 1989, after a call by the UN General Assembly for a day to promote a global culture of risk-awareness and disaster reduction. The day marks how people and communities around the world are reducing their exposure to disasters and raising awareness about the importance of reining in the risks that they face.   

In 2015 at the Third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction at Sendai in Japan, the international community was reminded that disasters hit hardest at the local level with the potential to cause loss of life and great social and economic upheaval. Sudden onset disasters displace millions of people every year. Disasters, many of which are exacerbated by climate change, have a negative impact on investment in sustainable development and the desired outcomes.   

It is also at the local level that capacities need to be strengthened urgently. The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction is people-focused and action-oriented in its approach to disaster risk reduction and applies to the risk of small-scale and large-scale disasters caused by man-made, or natural hazards, as well as related environmental, technological and biological hazards and risks.   

Cities are the front lines in dealing with disasters and are a major emphasis of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction. They are particularly vulnerable to increasingly frequent and extreme weather hazards, such as storms, climate change impacts, including water shortages, environmental degradation and unsafe construction in seismic zones.   

Every two years, the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) works with thinkers, practitioners, experts and innovators to investigate the state of risk across the globe: highlighting what’s new, spotting emerging trends, revealing disturbing patterns, examining behaviour, and presenting progress in reducing risk. The findings make up the 2022 Global Assessment Report on Disaster Risk Reduction.   

In 2021, 432 disastrous events related to natural hazards worldwide. An estimated 252 billion US$ of economic damage was reported. 44 per cent of disasters have been associated with floods. Early warnings saves lives - early warning by 24 hours can cut the ensuing damage by 30 per cent.