This Sunday (October 13th) marked the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, established by the United Nations to raise awareness about the critical need for proactive disaster preparedness. This year’s theme is “Empowering the next generation for a resilient future,” emphasizing the importance of global and community-driven initiatives that aim to reduce the impacts of hazards in a changing climate.
What is Disaster Risk Reduction?
Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) involves actions taken before a hazard occurs to reduce its impact and prevent it from becoming a disaster. DRR is a forward-looking strategy that focuses on preparedness and building resilience to disasters caused by natural hazards, such as floods, earthquakes, droughts, and cyclones.
The severity of a disaster depends largely on a community’s vulnerability to such hazards. DRR initiatives work to lessen these vulnerabilities by strengthening social protections, improving infrastructure, and raising awareness. Examples of these actions include building more resilient housing, creating effective water management systems to mitigate flood risks, and implementing flood and fire safety measures in vulnerable communities.
DRR in 2024
On January 7, 2024, a major fire broke out in Camp 5 of Cox’s Bazar. Thanks to the quick response of trained volunteers, no lives were lost despite the destruction of nearly 800 shelters and key infrastructure such as healthcare centres, water points, and learning centres. Volunteers who had previously received MOAS fire safety training were among the first responders and helped prevent the fire from spreading further, limiting the devastation.
This year, Bangladesh has also been hit hard by severe flooding, impacting millions nationwide. In regions like Cox’s Bazar, where flooding and landslides affected nearly 1 million people by September, the importance of our water safety training is evident. Refugees and local volunteers trained in flood response have played a key role in supporting their communities and saving lives.
Such events underscore the continued relevance of Disaster Risk Reduction efforts, especially in vulnerable areas like refugee camps, where the risk of fire and water-related hazards is ever-present.
MOAS’ Approach to DRR
Since 2019, MOAS has actively engaged in Disaster Risk Reduction efforts, particularly in refugee camps. Our work is geared towards capacity building and resilience.
Refugee camps are very prone to disaster due to their remote location, temporary shelters, and densely populated inhabitants. The dangers of fire are multiplied by the cramped living spaces, flammable shelters, and lack of proper structures to manage fire.
The residents of refugee camps are also particularly vulnerable to flooding. Camps are temporary, and therefore, drainage is a low priority. Deaths caused by water-related disasters have more than doubled in the last ten years. In a monsoon-affected country such as Bangladesh, drowning is the second leading cause of death for children under the age of five.
Through Fire Response and Water Safety Training programs, refugees and local community members learn how to tackle natural hazards head-on. Our efforts include providing life-saving equipment such as throw bags, water pumps, and fire-prevention tools like tuk-tuks converted into firefighting units. Volunteers are trained to save lives using this equipment. Over 12,450 volunteers have been trained in water safety and fire response through MOAS.
Rising Global Risks Demand Action Now
Disasters claim the lives of approximately 40,000 to 50,000 people annually. While this number has dramatically decreased due to improved preparedness and response systems, the frequency and intensity of natural hazards are rising sharply. In 2024 alone, extreme weather events have caused significant displacement and property loss, with many lower-income countries suffering disproportionately.
With climate change accelerating these risks, proactive DRR efforts are essential. The last few decades have seen nearly twice the number of climate-related hazards compared to earlier periods. Even if we meet the Paris Agreement’s global targets, rising global temperatures will still lead to severe impacts for many communities worldwide. Therefore, while climate action is crucial, we must also expand our DRR initiatives to mitigate the impacts of these changes.
Final Thoughts
On this International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, we invite you to reflect on the importance of proactive disaster preparedness. While much progress has been made in reducing disaster-related fatalities, the increasing threat of extreme weather events makes it clear that our work is far from over.
Together, we can build safer, more resilient communities worldwide.
If you’re interested in supporting MOAS’ disaster resilience efforts or learning more about our ongoing projects, follow us on social media, sign up for our newsletter, or contact us at [email protected]. To support our mission directly, please consider donating www.moas.eu/donate.
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.
