In this post I will be discussing DRR and DRM in the context of inclusive sustainable development. I will discuss the Sendai framework as well as the Global Platform for DRR. All of these are ways in which the global community is working towards creating inclusive sustainable development for disaster relief.

This previous class we talked about inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Disaster Risk Management (DRM). Inclusive DRR and DRM means that people of all abilities, age, gender, race, and poverty level are equally protected when it comes to natural hazards. Often the casualties for these types of hazards are disproportionate for peoples with disabilities and people in poverty. The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction writes that, “There are no such things as a ‘natural’ disasters, only natural hazards. Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) aims to reduce the damage caused by natural hazards like earthquakes, floods, droughts and cyclones, through an ethic of prevention.”[1] This is important for sustainable international development because natural hazards can happen anywhere at anytime, and if there are not proper structures in place to manage the risks, a lot of development work can be undone. Also if natural hazards disproportionally effect certain people, than that is not inclusive and thus a major problem.

A lot of the work being done on DRR and DRM comes from the Sendai Framework. The Sendai Framework was drafted at the UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in 2015 in Sendai, Japan. The Sendai Framework outline seven targets and four priorities for action to prevent new and reduce existing disaster risks. The Four priorities are:

• Understanding disaster risk
• Strengthening disaster risk governance to manage disaster risk
• Investing in disaster reduction for resilience
• Enhancing disaster preparedness for effective response, and to “Build Back Better” in recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction.[2]

Overall the Sendai framework does a fairly good job of outlining the ways in which to help mitigate the damages done by natural hazards. While it does mention persons with disabilities, the Dhaka declaration does a much better job of addressing the problems that persons with disabilities face when it comes to Disability and Disaster Risk Management. The Dhaka Declaration states that countries must recognize that inclusive disaster risk management policies and relevant and appropriate laws and regulations are essential to create an enabling environment for reducing existing disaster risks, preventing new risks, building resilient communities, and facilitating effective local, national, regional and international cooperation to increase already incremental investment in inclusive disaster risk management.[3]

[1] https://www.unisdr.org/who-we-are/what-is-drr

[2] https://www.unisdr.org/we/inform/publications/43291

[3] https://www.preventionweb.net/english/professional/policies/v.php?id=47093