International forum on natural disasters and building and construction safety

Across the UNECE region, people and the places where they live, are at risk. Natural disasters like earthquakes, hurricanes or flooding cause material devastation and human casualties. Human casualties and damage to the housing stock can be avoided if an effective system of disaster prevention is created that includes provisions for building safety. National building codes in the region should conform to the highest standards, but more importantly, be enforced, in order to prevent these disasters. The UNECE Committee on Housing and Land Management has decided to address this problem and organize a workshop on building safety/disaster preparedness in Baku, Azerbaijan.