Celebrating the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction 2022

ASHGABAT– On October 21, 2022, the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in collaboration with the Ministry of Defence and National Red Crescent Society in dedication of the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction organized a celebration to acknowledge the progress being made toward reducing disaster risks in Turkmenistan and active implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 adopted at the Third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in Japan in March 2015.

In keeping with the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction’s (IDDRR) focus on the impact that disasters have on people’s lives and well-being, this year’s theme was about highlighting the importance of early-warning systems. The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) set improving multi-hazard early warning systems as one of its seven global targets, in 2022 the focus is on Target G: “Substantially increase the availability of and access to multi-hazard early warning systems and disaster risk information and assessments to people by 2030.”

The event gathered Heads of emergency authorities, national partners, international organizations, public organizations, as well as young people to demonstrate Turkmenistan’s achievements and country’s emergency preparedness as well as disaster risk reduction progress. Performances in memory of the victims of the tragic Ashkhabad earthquake 1948 and highlighting the importance of the early warning systems were held. The event concluded with songs performed by the participants of the “Sing for resilience” contest.

The increasing frequency and severity of disaster events globally exacerbated by an accelerating climate crisis and environmental degradation means that children and young people need immediate action to build resilience, Mr. Mohammad Fayyazi, UNICEF Representative in Turkmenistan said, adding that UNICEF will continue working with Government on Child Centered DRR Strategy and all relevant DRR Climate Change Adaption (CCA) plans and protocols ensuring the best interest of child.

This event was organized in the framework of the regional programme “Strengthening Local and National Capacities for Emergency Preparedness and Response in High Earthquake Risk and Natural Hazard Prone Countries of Central Asia” funded by the USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance. The USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance invested 1,650,000 USD for the two-year implementation. Within the EU-funded project “Strengthening disaster resilience and accelerating implementation of Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction in Central Asia”, implemented by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), which aims to support countries of the region in implementing the Sendai Framework priorities, the EU committed EUR 3,750,000 for the three-year implementation.