Adovocacy Tool Kit

Overall situation

- In the past 100 years, the global average temperature has risen by about 0.74 degrees Celsius.

- The rate of change accelerated over the course of the 20th Century.

- Projections in temperature rise for the 21st century range from 2 to 4 degrees Celsius.

- It is very likely that this temperature rise is mainly caused by the emission of what are known as greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide (C02) and methane. They are increasing, mainly due to the burning of fossil fuels including coal, gas and oil, deforestation,

General Assembly
Sixty-fourth session Item 71 (a) of the preliminary list*
Strengthening of the coordination of humanitarian and disaster relief assistance of the United Nations, including special economic assistance: strengthening of the coordination of emergency humanitarian assistance of the United Nations

Economic and Social Council
Substantive session of 2009
Geneva, 6-31 July 2009
Item 5 of the provisional agenda**
Special economic, humanitarian and disaster relief assistance

Summary

The present report has been prepared

PARIS, Dec 19, 2007 (AFP) - Some of the biggest disasters of 2007:

- In November, a cyclone kills around 3,300 people and leaves hundreds of thousands homeless and in desperate need of supplies in Bangladesh. A military-led relief effort, aided by a fleet of US helicopters, is hampered by huge logistical hurdles after many roads are washed away by a tidal wave or blocked by fallen trees.

- More than 3,200 people are killed and 25 million of others marooned and displaced in the worst floods in decades across South Asia between June and September. Heavy monsoon rains and snow

AFRICA: In eastern Africa, despite improved outlook for current season crops in several countries, more than 18 million people are in need of food assistance. In western Africa, notwithstanding improved harvest prospects generally in the Sahel, the food security situation is still of concern notably in Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso. In Southern Africa, food insecurity is worsening for an estimated 12 million people due to reduced harvests in 2005, escalating food prices and rising energy costs. Prospects for 2006 main season crops are unfavourable in Zimbabwe,

IHA/1081
(Reissued as received.)

GENEVA, 30 August (UN/ISDR) -- "The strong tropical cyclone in Louisiana and Mississippi, as well as the devastating floods in Romania, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Austria and Germany are yet another reminder that natural hazards are a global threat. We need to pay more attention to social vulnerability to hazards", says Salvano Briceño, director of the Secretariat for the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UN/ISDR). "Anyone can be affected, any day, anywhere by disaster originated by a natural hazard. As a tourist

SNAPSHOT

UNDAC Teams deployment since 01 Jan. 2005 - to date:

- Sri Lanka-Earthquake/Tsunami

- Maldives-Earthquake/Tsunami

- Thailand-Earthquake/Tsunami

- Indonesia-Earthquake/Tsunami

- Seychelles-Earthquake/Tsunami

- Guyana - Floods

- Tokelau - Cyclone Percy

- Cook Islands- Cyclone Percy

- Dominican Republic. - Floods

- Indonesia - Earthquake

ASSISTANT EMERGENCY RELIEF COORDINATOR AND DIRECTOR OF OCHA GENEVA, MISSIONS TO:

- Abu Dhabi - ODSG Meeting, 7-10 May 2005