Disaster Risk Reduction and Health in the COVID-19 Pandemic
- English
Watch Recording
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has confirmed the close link between health and disaster risk reduction. This calls for a reflection on past practices, current capacities and plans for increasing investments to strengthen implementation of International Health Regulations (IHR, 2005) and the health aspects of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, as articulated in the Bangkok Principles (2016).
The Sendai Framework and the IHR together provide a basis for coherent action to facilitate building resilience and health security in communities and countries. Further, the WHO Health Emergency and Disaster Risk Management (EDRM) Framework provides global guidance to countries on putting in place the capacities and functions, within and across health and other sectors, to reduce health emergency risks and impacts.
UNDRR and WHO are organizing a webinar to highlight the existing tools to enhance the integration of disaster risk reduction in all sectors to manage health and related risks including for disease outbreaks, as a key example of a multi-sectoral approach to disaster risk management.
Objectives of the Webinar
The webinar will:
- Present the WHO Health EDRM Framework and the steps to support its implementation with a whole-of-society and all-hazards approach to manage risks from all types of emergencies and disasters.
- Present the Bangkok Principles and the steps in supporting the implementation of the Sendai Framework for DRR and the WHO Health EDRM Framework
- Recommend key actions to enhance the promotion and implementation of integrated all-hazards disaster risk management by all sectors and stakeholders; and
- Recommend measures to strengthen whole-of-society disaster risk governance for joint action to reduce the risks and impacts of disease outbreaks, including future pandemics, through regional, national and local strategies for disaster risk management.
The webinar's outcomes will inform the 2021 Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (APMCDRR).
Target Audience
- Asia Pacific Sendai Framework Focal Points and National Disaster Management Officials.
- Health Sector Stakeholders.
- WHO, UNDRR and other UN Agencies.