Wednesday, July 31, 2013

United Nations survey on living with disabilities and disasters

The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction 
has put out a 2013 Survey on Living with Disabilities and Disasters. (Note: THIS SURVEY IS ONLY INTENDED FOR PERSONS LIVING WITH DISABILITIES.)

On October 13th, the U.N. International Day for Disaster Reduction will focus on the issues surrounding some one billion of the world's people who live with disabilities and disaster risks. These persons, by-and-large, still have no significant representation in the planning and decision-making processes to reduce these risks or build resilience.The International Day intends to switch on and amplify the conversation that must take place on the needs of persons with disabilities in potential disaster scenarios.

Given the lack of data on disability issues generally, UNISDR is conducting this survey to ascertain the needs of persons living with disabilities and disasters. The International Day will further invite persons living with disabilities as well as society at large to get involved by expressing concerns, needs and recommendations on the International Day web page that can enhance implementation of the Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA) – the global disaster risk reduction plan that was adopted in 2005 for 10 years.

The HFA explains, describes and details what is required from all different sectors and actors to reduce disaster losses. It was developed and agreed on with governments, international agencies, disaster experts and many others. The HFA outlines five priorities for action, and offers guiding principles and practical means for achieving disaster resilience. Its goal is to substantially reduce disaster losses by 2015 by building the resilience of nations and communities to disasters.

In 2015 the HFA will complete its 10-year term. Findings from the survey and other information gathered during the observation of IDDR 13 will be used to influence the remaining two years of the Framework and as well as the post HFA consultations, which began in March 2012. The goal is a post 2015 Framework that is more disability inclusive.

No comments:

Post a Comment