Intentional Day for Disaster Risk Reduction Date in the current year: October 13, 2024

This observance was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in 1989 and the first events were organized in various countries around the world in 1990. Originally this international observance was called International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction and it was a part of the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction, held by the UN in the 1990s. However, the tradition was kept and the UN General Assembly decided to maintain it in its resolution in 2002. Another resolution in 2009 changed the name of the observance, omitting “Natural” and designated October 13 to be an official date for observation of this day.

Nowadays observance of this international day promotes global disaster reduction. Annually thousands die due to nature and technogenic disasters, and even more lose their homes. This situation may be changed only if we make efforts to prevent disasters and mitigate their consequences.