Update

A recent survey by the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR) highlights that at least 62 percent of households in the delta still live in shelters that are not disaster resistant, reports IRIN. More on structural safety at the Global Platform...

International participants of a recent workshop in Islamabad committed possible support to Pakistan in order to draw up a comprehensive plan on disaster risk reduction (DRR), introduce early warning systems and develop community based DRR teams in the country. Pakistan will be among the many countries participating in the Global Platform...

The head of the United Nations office tasked with assisting countries with disaster risk reduction has stressed that governments and communities must urgently build disaster preparedness to avoid paying higher human and economic costs when such events occur, ahead of the the Global Platform next week...

A Consortium of Chinese scientists and international disaster reduction consultants are launching an early warning system 'SOLUZION' aimed at providing real-time early warnings of earthquakes, landslides, tsunamis, cyclones and floods straight into homes, offices, hospitals and schools and potentially reducing the loss of lives and property...

A partnership geared towards community disaster preparedness and response has been inked between the Philippine Information Agency and the National Telecommunications Commission. More on building the capacities of local communities for disaster preparedness and risk reduction at the Global Platform...

Plan Asia's Warisara Sornpet recounts her recent visit to the hardest-hit coastal communities of Laputta township, three years after Cyclone Nargis and describes how, with the help from Plan, they are building resilience to natural hazards. More on building the resilience of coastal communities at the Global Platform...

Further to the devastating storms that ravaged parts of the United States over the past week, The New York Times highlights some maps by Sperling’s Best Places, a publisher of city rankings, an attempt to assess a combination of risks in 379 American metro areas. Learn more about resilient cities at the Global Platform...

The Department of Science and Technology-Science Education Institute has planned to run training sessions to raise the awareness of teachers and students on natural hazards and help implement an effective disaster management plan, reports ABS-CBN. More on youth engagement and capacity building at the Global Platform...

'Hopefully [..] efforts will help Japanese researchers return to some sense of normality, allow the world to gain a better understanding of earthquakes and tsunamis in general, and prevent future loss.' said NSF's Barry Schneider, TeraGrid Program Director. Visit the Global Platform for more on risk assessment...

'It is the task of every citizen to be involved in efforts to reduce disaster risks and adapt to climate change.' said Senator Loren Legarda in a press release. Learn more about climate change adaptation...