October 13: International Day for Disaster Reduction

The International Day for Disaster Reduction (IDDR) is observed every year on October 13 to promote a global culture of risk-awareness and disaster reduction. The observance of day seeks to encourage citizens and governments to take part in building more disaster resilient communities and nations.
It also celebrates how people and communities around world are reducing their exposure to disasters and raising awareness about the importance of reining in risks that they face.  It also seeks to spread awareness about reining risks of disasters around world and also reduce exposure of people and communities to disasters.
The 2017 theme is “Home Safe Home: Reducing Exposure, Reducing Displacement”. It seeks to raise global awareness about effective actions, policies and practices taken to reduce exposure to disaster risk at community level, thereby contributing to saving homes and livelihoods.
Background
The International Day for Disaster Reduction was instituted by UN General Assembly (UNGA) in 1989 to promote a global culture of risk-awareness and disaster reduction. Earlier, this day was celebrated annually on the second Wednesday of October. But in 2009, the UNGA formally designated 13 October as the annual date by adopting Resolution 64/200.

Month: Current Affairs - October, 2017