63 countries renew commitment to disaster risk reduction

The World Ministerial Conference on Disaster Reduction, organized by Japan and the United Nations, concluded today, calling for increased investment in disaster preparedness and recovery.

The Conference and its summary document contribute to the discussion on renewing the Hyogo Framework for Action, which serves as a crucial guideline for international disaster reduction work, 2005 - 2015. The document recommends integrating disaster reduction initiatives in public policies and development plans, and calls for efforts to build resilient societies prepared to manage disasters, including prevention, mitigation, emergency response, recovery and reconstruction.