The EU celebrates 20th anniversary of its Disaster Preparedness Programme today

On the occasion of the International Disaster Risk Reduction Day – October 13, the EU marks 20 years of Disaster Preparedness programmes through organisation of a ceremony which will take place at �...

On the occasion of the International Disaster Risk Reduction Day – October 13, the EU marks 20 years of Disaster Preparedness programmes through organisation of a ceremony which will take place at “EXPO Georgia” in Tbilisi, Georgia, today.

Launched in 1996, the Disaster Preparedness programme (DIPECHO) is the core element of Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO)’s disaster risk reduction (DRR) global efforts, in which it has thus far invested €325 million. The key goal of the programme is to increase communities’ resilience and reduce their vulnerability. DIPECHO is a people-oriented programme, helping communities at risk of disasters to better prepare themselves by undertaking training, establishing or improving local early warning systems and contingency planning. It also encourages citizens, civil society groups and local, regional and national authorities to work more effectively together.

The International Day for Disaster Reduction began in 1989, after a call by the United Nations General Assembly for a day to promote a global culture of risk-awareness and disaster reduction. Held every 13 October, the day celebrates how people and communities around the world are reducing their exposure to disasters and raising awareness about the importance of reining in the risks that they face.