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What is Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR)?

Disaster risk is the potential loss expressed in lives, health status, livelihoods, assets and services, which could occur to a particular community or a society due to the impact of a natural hazard. Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) is a systematic approach to identifying, assessing and reducing that risk.

Specifically, the purpose of DRR is to minimize vulnerabilities and disaster risks throughout a society to avoid (prevent) or limit (mitigate and prepare for) the adverse impacts of natural hazards, as well as to facilitate sustainable development. DRR is also recognized as a key climate change adaptation strategy.

DRR and UNICEF

UNICEF recognizes its crucial responsibility to integrate DRR into its development programmes. In 2005, UNICEF committed to the Hyogo Framework for Action (adopted by 168 countries) and, in 2006, it played a role not only in strengthening the UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction system but by actively began participating in a number of global, regional and national networks and coalitions, such as Children in a Changing Climate (together with the Institute of Development Studies, Plan, Save the Children and World Vision) and the Inter-Agency Committee on the Decade of Education for Sustainable Development.

UNICEF’s updated Core Commitments for Children in Humanitarian Action (CCCs) include DRR and represent a set of principles, approaches and specific interventions that cover preparedness, response and early recovery, in efforts to bridge the gap between development and humanitarian programming.