A global review of disaster reduction initiatives - Welcome to the ...

1Living with Risk: A global review of disaster reduction initiativesWorld Conference on Natural Disaster Reduction,Yokohama Strategy and Plan of Action for a Safer World (May 1994)YOKOHAMA MESSAGE"We, the States Members of the United Nations and otherStates, having met at the World Conference on Natural DisasterReduction, in the city of Yokohama, Japan, from 23 May to 27May 1994, in partnership with non-governmental organizations,and with the participation of international organizations,the scientific community, business, industry and the media, deliberatingwithin the framework of the International Decade fornatural Disaster Reduction, expressing our deep concern for thecontinuing human suffering and disruption of development causedby natural disasters, and inspired by the Yokohama Strategy andPlan of Action for a Safer World…." …."adopted the followingPrinciples, Strategy and Plan for Action"181. Risk assessment is a required step for theadoption of adequate and successful disasterreduction policies and measures.2. Disaster prevention and preparedness are ofprimary importance in reducing the need fordisaster relief.3. Disaster prevention and preparedness shouldbe considered integral aspects of developmentpolicy and planning at national, regional,bilateral, multilateral and international levels.4. The development and strengthening of capacitiesto prevent, reduce and mitigate disastersis a top priority area to be addressed so as toprovide a strong basis for follow-up activitiesto the IDNDR.5. Early warnings of impending disasters andtheir effective dissemination are key factors tosuccessful disaster prevention and preparedness.6. Preventive measures are most effective whenthey involve participation at all levels from thelocal community through the national governmentto the regional and international level.7. Vulnerability can be reduced by the applicationof proper design and patterns ofdevelopment focused on target groups byappropriate education and training of thewhole community.8. The international community accepts theneed to share the necessary technology toprevent, reduce and mitigate disaster.9. Environmental protection as a componentof sustainable development consistent withpoverty alleviation is imperative in the preventionand mitigation of natural disasters.10. Each country bears the primary responsibilityfor protecting its people, infrastructure,and other national assets from theimpact of natural disasters. The internationalcommunity should demonstratestrong political determination required tomake efficient use of existing resources,including financial, scientific and technologicalmeans, in the field of natural disasterreduction, bearing in mind the needs ofthe developing countries, particularly theleast developed countries.Basis for the Strategy:"Natural disasters continue to strike and increasein magnitude, complexity, frequency and economicimpact. Whilst the natural phenomena causingdisasters are in most cases beyond human control,vulnerability is generally a result of humanactivity. Therefore, society must recognize andstrengthen traditional methods and explore newways to live with such risk, and take urgentactions to prevent as well as to reduce the effectsof such disasters. The capacities to do so areavailable."Although articulated in 1994, the principlescontained in the Yokohama Strategy and Plan ofAction for a Safer World are possibly more relevantto risk reduction now than when they wereconceived.