International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction
(1990-1999)

In 1987, by resolution 42/169, the General Assembly designated the 1990s as a decade in which the international community would pay special attention to fostering international cooperation in natural disaster reduction. It proclaimed in 1989 the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction, beginning on 1 January 1990, and adopted an International Framework of Action for the Decade (resolution 44/236 of 22 December).

The Decade's aim is to reduce, through concerted international action, especially in developing countries, loss of life, damage, and social and economic disruption caused by natural disasters. Among its goals are: to improve the capacity of countries to mitigate the effects of natural disasters, including by establishing early-warning systems; to foster scientific and engineering knowledge in order to reduce loss of life and property; and to develop measures for assessing, predicting, preventing and mitigating natural disasters through technical assistance, technology transfer, demonstration projects, education and training. The Geneva-based Secretariat for the Decade is under the authority of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction
Programme Forum (1999)

At the close of the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction (IDNDR), an IDNDR Programme Forum will be held in Geneva from 5 to 9 July 1999, organized by the Secretariat of the Decade in collaboration with the World Meteorological Organization, the United Nations Development Programme, UNESCO, the World Bank and other partners. The Forum, focusing on "Partnerships for a safer world in the twenty-first century", will feature a series of coordinated events, including conferences and workshops, discussions and presentations. The objectives are to evaluate progress in disaster reduction, to identify trends in natural hazards and to shape directions in disaster prevention. The outcome of the Forum will be presented to the Economic and Social Council (Geneva, July 1999) within the Council's evaluation of the future of IDNDR and its discussions on the future of disaster reduction in the twenty-first century.

International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction
(Second Wednesday of October)

Within the framework of the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction, the General Assembly designated the second Wednesday of October as International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction, to be observed annually during the Decade (resolution 44/236).