How to turn awareness into action on disaster preparedness

The international response to the Nepal crisis is making a diference, but the future of sustainable development depends on minimising risks, rather than cleaning up after disasters, writes Nicholas Rutherford on Euractiv.

Rutherford writes that it is encouraging to see a greater awareness of how effective and comprehensive disaster preparedness can radically reduce the human impact of an earthquake, flood or typhoon. But such work cannot be viewed as an optional add-on, he continues. Instead, it must form the cornerstone of any long-term development strategies for vulnerable parts of the world. Only then can we prevent the next disaster from becoming another tragic front page news story.