News and announcements

The UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Disaster Reduction, Margareta Wahlström, and Luxembourg’s Minister for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs, Marie-Josée Jacobs, today signed a four-year Cooperation Agreement.

القدس :أصدرت المديرية العامة للدفاع المدني تقريراً حول أبرز النشاطات التي نفذتها الطواقم خلال الأسبوع الماضي المتمثل في النشاط التدريبي والتوعوي للوقاية من الحوادث والمخاطر في المؤسسات والمجتمع المحلي إضافة إلى أبرز جولات طواقم الوقاية والسلامة العامة للكشف على المواقع والمنشآت والحرص على حماية الممتلكات في محافظات الوطن ، ليختتم التقرير بأبرز الحوادث التي تعاملت معها الطواقم .

A stricter building-code system enforces building codes and prescribes training and licensing for building officials and contractors in Florida. 'Your code is only as good as your system to make sure you're compliant. Once you're compliant, you can ask if we need more codes,' said Douglas Buck, a director at the Florida Home Builders Association...

National Council of Architects warns that there are 6 million buildings facing grave seismic risks in Italy and criticizes the lack of security standards of buildings in the country, 'anti-seismic standards were introduced only in 1973, which means about half of the current houses lack them'...

'Occorre proteggere la vita dei cittadini – dicono gli architetti – e le tragedie che hanno colpito il nostro Paese devono essere un monito per tutti – e renderli consapevoli delle condizione del loro habitat e di quelle idrogeologiche del nostro Paese che rappresentano un altissimo rischio per la loro sicurezza'...

The new guide contains practical information on preparing for and recovery from the effects of disaster events which may affect the territory. It includes hazard-specific safety tips and information on personal, family, business and community preparedness...

Following a 6.0-magnitude earthquake that rocked north-east Italy on Sunday morning, around 3,000 residents of San Felipe and surrounding areas are living “like refugees” advised not to re-enter their homes by the Italian civil protection service because of ongoing aftershocks.

Dawn.com reports that the National Disaster Management Authority has called for investments in disaster preparedness, as the monsoon season is approaching in the area. Preparations for early warnings and evacuation plans are also called for. Following the 2010 floods that had devastating effects on the country, waterways and dykes have been partially repaired...