Global Assessment Report on Disaster Risk Reduction 2015
Making development sustainable: The future of disaster risk management


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Part III - Chapter 11
Box 11.3 Key activities related to urban development in the HFA
(n) Incorporate disaster risk assessments into the urban planning and management of disaster-prone human settlements, in particular highly populated areas and quickly urbanizing settlements. The issues of informal or non-permanent housing and the location of housing in high-risk areas should be addressed as priorities, including in the framework of urban poverty reduction and slum-upgrading programmes.

(r) Encourage the revision of existing or the development of new building codes, standards, rehabilitation and reconstruction practices at the national or local levels, as appropriate, with the aim of making them more applicable in the local context, particularly in informal and marginal human settlements, and reinforce the capacity to implement, monitor and enforce such codes, through a consensus-based approach, with a view to fostering disaster-resistant structures.
While the direct damage from the storm depended on whether buildings or infrastructure had been designed to or above code, the indirect loss and impact was heavily influenced by interdependence (GAR 13 paperHaraguchi and Kim, 2014

GAR13 Reference Haraguchi, Masahiko and Kim, Soojun. 2014,Critical Infrastructure Systems: A case study of the interconnectedness of risks posed by Hurricane Sandy for New York City, Input Paper prepared for the 2015 Global Assessment Report on Disaster Risk Reduction. Geneva, Switzerland: UNISDR..
Click here to view this GAR paper.
). For example, the health, transportation and electricity sectors suffered significant additional indirect damage from interruptions in the transport and building sectors (Table 11.1). These interdependencies mean that certain critical sectors need to be factored into risk reduction measures and investment plans to strengthen the city’s resilience (New York City Government, 2013

New York City Government. 2013,A Stronger, More Resilient New York, 11 June 2013.. .
; GAR 13 paperHaraguchi and Kim, 2014

GAR13 Reference Haraguchi, Masahiko and Kim, Soojun. 2014,Critical Infrastructure Systems: A case study of the interconnectedness of risks posed by Hurricane Sandy for New York City, Input Paper prepared for the 2015 Global Assessment Report on Disaster Risk Reduction. Geneva, Switzerland: UNISDR..
Click here to view this GAR paper.
).
11.2 Addressing urban disaster
risks in the HFA
Much of the progress made in addressing urban disaster risk is associated with strong urban planning and management in itself, particularly in higher-income countries. Therefore, a significant amount of effort has been made in the context of other frameworks, especially in climate change adaptation, rather than the disaster risk reduction sector. These efforts have given rise to innovative urban practices with risk reduction co-benefits.
Under Priority for Action 4, the HFA placed considerable emphasis and gave detailed guidance on the role of urban planning as well as building standards and regulation in disaster risk reduction, including the design of infrastructure and critical facilities such as hospitals and schools (Box 11.3).
Government self-assessment reports prepared using the HFA Monitor highlight progress over the last three reporting cycles, even though the progress in this area is considerably lower than in other priorities for action (Figure 11.5). This is also the case in other areas of Priority for Action 4.
Much of the progress made in addressing urban disaster risk is associated with strong urban
Table 11.1 Direct and indirect damage from Hurricane Sandy
(Source: GAR 13 paperHaraguchi and Kim, 2014

GAR13 Reference Haraguchi, Masahiko and Kim, Soojun. 2014,Critical Infrastructure Systems: A case study of the interconnectedness of risks posed by Hurricane Sandy for New York City, Input Paper prepared for the 2015 Global Assessment Report on Disaster Risk Reduction. Geneva, Switzerland: UNISDR..
Click here to view this GAR paper.
.)
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